"\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=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022ff16993cdb1b482a9786905e6b400907\u0022\u003ETHURSDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2025\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00225feada4d04344d148727c5e788ef6742\u0022\u003ETHURSDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2025\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000002\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=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000004\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002287e11fff6ab6413bbcc908c14544637e\u0022\u003EKarakia/Prayers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022daec7c07684e4162b8d05b71e50a4d61\u0022\u003EKarakia/Prayers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022 data-id=\u002238eac61e514e406bb985e66df4985cef\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002238eac61e514e406bb985e66df4985cef\u0022\u003EGREG O\u0027CONNOR (Assistant Speaker):\u003C/span\u003E Almighty God, we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests, we acknowledge the King and pray for guidance in our deliberations, that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom, justice, mercy, and humility for the welfare and peace of New Zealand. Amen. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00227f3216b44eb04715af48a9533863f3f5\u0022\u003EMember Sworn\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f579e759c52e4587b14f68a916e107a0\u0022\u003EMember Sworn\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u00222a6401fe1b6e4412b09709916b1846fa\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222a6401fe1b6e4412b09709916b1846fa\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Members, I understand that Oriini Kaipara is present and wishes to make the Affirmation of Allegiance. Would Oriini Kaipara please come forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022 data-id=\u00228673bafe83ea403b9d3aee10cbd67ae1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228673bafe83ea403b9d3aee10cbd67ae1\u0022\u003EORIINI KAIPARA (Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014T\u0101maki Makaurau):\u003C/span\u003E Ko ahau, ko Oriini Kaipara, e k\u012B ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ng\u0101kau tapatahi me te whaka\u016B an\u014D ka noho pirihonga, ka noho p\u016Bmau ki a K\u012Bngi Ti\u0101re te Tuatoru me t\u014Dna k\u0101hui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E[I, Oriini Kaipara, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00224d31d51ccee545b2a525df73aaa745d5\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d7bd644894764f23aab46923a48c95b0\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022 data-id=\u0022aec94a9a8dbc4d8dac7b211098696888\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022aec94a9a8dbc4d8dac7b211098696888\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (Deputy Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E Today, the House will adjourn until Tuesday, 14 October. That week the House will make progress on the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill and the Building and Construction (Small Stand-alone Dwellings) Amendment Bill. The hours of Tuesday will be extended into Wednesday morning for Government business, and on Thursday there will be a one-hour special debate on local issues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d4eeec1997ef45658c0285cca532a5d5\u0022\u003EPetitions, Papers, Select Committee Reports, and Introduction of Bills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022265b5da52b054ab5b522690c99e64d66\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=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u002277040ffd9c0a45d5b6d830b4f12d0586\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002277040ffd9c0a45d5b6d830b4f12d0586\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No petitions have been delivered to the Clerk for presentation. Ministers have delivered 11 papers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022\u0022 data-id=\u002232444d37bf084a9b8caf8c58d29cc515\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002232444d37bf084a9b8caf8c58d29cc515\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003E2024-25 annual reports of:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL2\u0022\u003Ethe Accident Compensation Corporation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL2\u0022\u003Ethe Crown Law Office\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL2\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Qualifications Authority\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL2\u0022\u003EKordia Group, and\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL2\u0022\u003EPam\u016B Farms\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL2\u0022\u003EAccident Compensation Corporation Climate Report for the Year Ending 30 June 2025, and Service Agreement for 2025-26\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EMinistry for the Environment and Stats New Zealand, New Zealand\u2019s Environmental Reporting Series: Our Marine Environment 2025\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ENotice of declarations of inconsistency: Public Protection Orders under the Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014 and Extended Supervision Orders under the Parole Act 2002\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EReport in relation to selected non-departmental appropriations for the science, innovation and technology portfolio within Vote Business, Science and Innovation for the Year Ending 30 June 2025.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u0022640f95b1c961414a872d5ce096aa55ee\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022640f95b1c961414a872d5ce096aa55ee\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Those papers are published under the authority of the House. Two select committee reports have been delivered for presentation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022\u0022 data-id=\u00224a86a03fe7dc4c268bec8593f7e68d0a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224a86a03fe7dc4c268bec8593f7e68d0a\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EReports of the Social Services and Community Committee on the:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL2\u0022\u003Ereport of the Ombudsman, OIA timeliness obligations: Compliance and practice in Kainga Ora Housing New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL2\u0022\u003Ereview briefing on the 2023/24 annual review of the Social Workers Registration Board.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u00227ba1bcd8951345949235aae98af6cefb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227ba1bcd8951345949235aae98af6cefb\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Those reports are set down for consideration. No bills have been introduced.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bfcc3ed2005c415b80b216a5026d88e6\u0022\u003EOral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002277fb051feef943678a535824bae551b7\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f3aaceadde7246349e2b9c1bd5cf4d24\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 1\u2014Economic Growth\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b7cff05e64f346e68983b2fdbfba3ad8\u0022 data-id=\u00228413763c78684cc895b4799eb72c2373\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b7cff05e64f346e68983b2fdbfba3ad8\u0022\u003E1. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228413763c78684cc895b4799eb72c2373\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS (National\u2014Northcote)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Economic Growth: What recent announcements has she made?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022 data-id=\u0022e9ff90ac96a444898a82e154255940a5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e9ff90ac96a444898a82e154255940a5\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister for Economic Growth):\u003C/span\u003E This morning I announced new Government procurement rules that take effect on 1 December. These are the rules that Government agencies apply when assessing bids to supply them with goods and services, including everything from paper towels to roads. All told, Government contracts are worth more than $50 billion a year. That is a huge amount, but Kiwi businesses have been telling Government for years, over successive Governments, that they\u0027ve been missing out because the rules are not fit for purpose. Today, the Government has fixed it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b7cff05e64f346e68983b2fdbfba3ad8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222e5ead65dab44f90a3300127c013728a\u0022\u003EDan Bidois\u003C/span\u003E: What is the key change being made to the Government procurement rules?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224f7e33a2fe5b405986deb074a9d9c006\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: The key change is an economic benefit test that levels the playing field for New Zealand businesses. When considering tender applications, Government agencies will now be required to give a weighting of at least 10 percent to benefits to New Zealand. This means New Zealand companies won\u0027t miss out on contracts to overseas competitors because of small differences in price. This provision does not breach international trade agreements, because overseas companies have the same opportunity to demonstrate wider value to New Zealand, and similar provisions exist in many of our trading partners\u2019 procurement rules. This Government recognises that there is benefit to New Zealand in companies employing New Zealanders, training New Zealanders, and investing in New Zealand, and we are putting taxpayer dollars to that purpose.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b7cff05e64f346e68983b2fdbfba3ad8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002201c3124012444fc3bb15edcb0f5751a5\u0022\u003EDan Bidois\u003C/span\u003E: What other changes are being made to the rules?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225f3f80e25e9d431aa732d40a1631cf21\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Businesses, particularly small and medium sized businesses, have been telling Government that the paperwork involved in bidding for contracts is too onerous, so we are getting rid of requirements that are redundant or unnecessary, that duplicate content, that repeat statutory and regulatory requirements, or that have never been applied in practice. As a result, the number of rules is being reduced from 71 to 47\u2014far, far simpler.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b7cff05e64f346e68983b2fdbfba3ad8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002282ea05476cd54740afff6fc0e7b25823\u0022\u003EDan Bidois\u003C/span\u003E: What has been the reaction to the new rules?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b59dd0b29fef4570a0db607900f3d738\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, if the response to this morning\u0027s announcement at Business New Zealand is any guide, unadulterated delight. In the words of Business New Zealand chief executive Katherine Rich, the new rules are transformational, sensible, and fair and will be celebrated by businesses from one end of the country to the other. That is fantastic, and I\u0027d like to pay tribute to Katherine and her team at Business New Zealand. Business New Zealand has been campaigning for this sensible change for 10 years, and I\u0027m glad our Government got it done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229336e66c83e04d0896c5c8f4a9047eba\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 2\u2014M\u0101ori Development\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002247a88a22498e4a208a43347635748943\u0022 data-id=\u0022ec09805cf3214891825d16ac7c8225e9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002247a88a22498e4a208a43347635748943\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ec09805cf3214891825d16ac7c8225e9\u0022\u003ET\u0100KUTA FERRIS (Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014Te Tai Tonga)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for M\u0101ori Development: Does he agree with the Waitangi Tribunal\u0027s official position on the proposed name change: \u201CWe do not support changing the name from the Waitangi Tribunal to a Commission in case it leads to confusion concerning the bespoke jurisdiction we exercise\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022 data-id=\u0022806f89301b664fcfa6a52a4033d98e30\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022806f89301b664fcfa6a52a4033d98e30\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA (Minister for M\u0101ori Development):\u003C/span\u003E The Waitangi Tribunal carries over 50 years of jurisprudence, symbolism, and mana. I am not aware of any proposed name change as the Minister responsible for the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975. But I am aware of last night\u2019s excellent 50-year anniversary function at the Legislative Council Chamber, attended by the member in question and other members of this glorious House. Hari huritau 50 ki Te R\u014Dp\u016B Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E[Happy 50th anniversary to the Waitangi Tribunal.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002247a88a22498e4a208a43347635748943\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223c0e2e1fa1a544798e4c407f98bffc8c\u0022\u003ET\u0101kuta Ferris\u003C/span\u003E: Can he confirm that the proposed name change would erode the independence of the tribunal, creating a system where Ministers decide what claims can be heard?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226fdbc5fa39044f1c81394e2ba3ae7735\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: T\u0113 m\u014D\u2019io au ki te ia o te p\u0101tai a t\u0113nei mema.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E[I don\u2019t know what the thrust of the member\u2019s question is.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003EI am not aware of any proposed name change for the Waitangi Tribunal.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002247a88a22498e4a208a43347635748943\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002289b3d8f7408342b98f7e9f78b3409bec\u0022\u003ET\u0101kuta Ferris\u003C/span\u003E: Is he concerned by Crown Law\u2019s own assessment that altering the powers of the tribunal could breach the principle of separation powers and the principle of responsible Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228e2276758d46423abd5374e4d48dd48e\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: The Government continues to be responsible in this space and is progressing the review announced, in a very timely manner.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002247a88a22498e4a208a43347635748943\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227ffb0335370f4e90b505d28c272f8249\u0022\u003ET\u0101kuta Ferris\u003C/span\u003E: Will he rule out changing the name of the Waitangi Tribunal?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef2d61093847474f9fba5e886aae5c98\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: That is a matter that I\u2019ve only just become aware of as a result of the question posed to me by the member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002270b6624793b9423cbb4b5656c8c0a92d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Question No. 3, the Hon Barbara Edmonds.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002292975a0374ad44dba22c05abf10bf71b\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Supplementary question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e714f973acd74860bcb76113a76c7efa\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, supplementary question, the Rt Hon Winston Peters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022009e054a47e34f9287444dea4dd948d7\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Has the Minister looked at the tribunal\u2019s statement about their concern regarding a \u201Cbespoke jurisdiction\u201D; and having regard to the word \u201Cbespoke\u201D, who\u2019s the tailor here, who\u2019s the customer here, who\u2019s this being made for: Parliament or some other body?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225746e60a1c184d8ea0f8307e5090efea\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: My responsibilities in this space are focusing on clarifying these matters, not confusing these matters any further.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00221bfd6db8f05440739edc7c943161cd9f\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 3\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d2742e1d5da4db8985354d2641589c0\u0022 data-id=\u00222be63523b58f486da5de14a99b4261ce\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d2742e1d5da4db8985354d2641589c0\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222be63523b58f486da5de14a99b4261ce\u0022\u003EHon BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour\u2014Mana)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: Vinaka vakalevu, Mr Speaker. Is an annual growth rate of negative 1.1 percent, three percentage points lower than forecast before the election, the result of her economic plan; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022 data-id=\u0022c725559a0b0c4ac7818a3f11b08b748a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c725559a0b0c4ac7818a3f11b08b748a\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E As I said yesterday, and the day before: no. Let me point something out for members. The IMF\u2019s latest world economic outlook shows that in 2023, out of all the world\u2019s advanced economies, New Zealand had the largest positive output gap. In other words, it had the most overheated economy in the world. Inflation was far above the target band, and the Reserve Bank had to the raise the official cash rate (OCR) to 5.5\u00A0percent\u2014the highest rate since 2008. That\u2019s why the economy went into a long, painful downturn. It is now recovering but, as often happens in a recovery, the road has been rocky. The member might think that spending more, taxing more, and borrowing more is an alternative plan, but I disagree with it and so do most New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d2742e1d5da4db8985354d2641589c0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220c402bd553e74654a837a0af6c76cb65\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: So, therefore, is she borrowing more or less?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223702d75debd84d5c9566aabf2f2b7b8b\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m pleased to report to the House that today\u2019s Financial Statements of Government shows that debt, for the first time in five years, has not increased as a proportion of GDP. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d2742e1d5da4db8985354d2641589c0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229006ead1a265488a9585c629a3d4b0c3\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: What does she say to one business leader who said, \u201CWhat has she done to create growth in New Zealand? I can\u2019t think of a single thing other than the supermarkets/banking publicity, which so far has not achieved anything.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ae5c9ab19f49493fb887848859773986\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Let me count the ways: tax relief for more than a million working New Zealanders; Investment Boost to encourage investment in our businesses so that they can grow; delivering fast-track infrastructure projects; investing in structured literacy in our schools; overhauling the Overseas Investment Act to welcome capital into this country. To finish a theme for the week, here\u2019s the quote I preferred from a chief executive in that publication: Labour, \u201CNot as co-ordinated on communications as they need to be, especially between Chris and Barbara.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d2742e1d5da4db8985354d2641589c0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022662d83ca73204bec97d5b2f56405d7d3\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Does she agree with Christopher Luxon that, \u201CNicola Willis and myself understand economics. We understand Budgets. We understand numbers.\u201D; if so, is that why, under, even her own measure of OBEGALx, the deficit is higher now than it was it in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002202317b48002a47f4bfc3f2c986b3ee88\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Let\u2019s keep it simple: I agree with the Prime Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225ad8981aef4949febdbc06a526024d77\u0022\u003EHon David Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: How much of that deficit is interest repayments on debt that was built up by the previous Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dd804475b6ba4ec8b5de795543fda03a\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s approximately $8 billion that we are paying to service the interest on our debt. I would also point out that those who are suddenly concerned about deficits might want to ask why they said that every time we made a spending reduction, whether it was pay equity, reducing the number of bureaucrats, reversing stupid programmes, that we shouldn\u2019t be cutting spending\u2014get consistent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d2742e1d5da4db8985354d2641589c0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227a9296f6f9c476e89203b41efadbeb8\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: If she understands numbers, then does she understand that the Government reduction in capital asset spending of $2.9\u00A0billion less has played a role in the decline of the construction sector and a loss of 20,000 construction sector jobs?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224bba8a4b197b4467be66dca4a2e82499\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, in each of our Budgets, we have invested more funding in public infrastructure, and I can\u2019t wait till we sign those contracts for the Northern Gateway road and for the many roads of national significance around the country. I\u2019m proud that, unlike the last Government, we\u2019re actually funding Dunedin Hospital, that we\u2019re rebuilding Nelson Hospital, that we\u2019re building more classrooms every year than they ever managed, and that we built more social homes in the past 23 months than they did in three years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d2742e1d5da4db8985354d2641589c0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002276a8fc8f07694bfd98e5b4726236e124\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Is her idea of an economic plan to deliver more unemployment, a shrinking economy, an inflation that is on the rise, and to blame everyone else except Nicola Willis?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fdffb294cabe4fdea744fb8869d09900\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: No, it is not, but I think that those who commit arson and then blame the firefighter should not repeat the same mistake. All I\u2019ve heard from that member is: lets borrow more, lets spend more, lets drive up the debt and inflation; and that is no prescription.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002276fd251f863b42c995365caed7f74aea\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 4\u2014Tourism and Hospitality\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022 data-id=\u0022e24317abaa124f9b9057fc02cb079baf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e24317abaa124f9b9057fc02cb079baf\u0022\u003ERIMA NAKHLE (National\u2014Takanini)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What recent announcements has she made about supporting major events and tourism in New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022 data-id=\u0022a7342660ea744f0c816c26fbf4bb21dd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a7342660ea744f0c816c26fbf4bb21dd\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Tourism and Hospitality):\u003C/span\u003E Last week, we served up a major win for sports fans and tourism alike. We announced a $5 million investment in a new centre court roof for Auckland\u2019s Manuka Doctor Arena. This is the first infrastructure project from our $70 million major events and tourism package. This upgrade is a grand slam for New Zealand\u2019s events sector; it means rain delays will be out, and world-class tennis will be in no matter the weather. Tourism and major events are a crucial part of our Government\u2019s focus on economic growth. More world-class events mean more visitors, more jobs, and a growing economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab5bdd2ea04244eda4579c0f82fa4c4b\u0022\u003ERima Nakhle\u003C/span\u003E: Why is this investment needed?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002268a7f567ae814a94b60ef5cd9438765a\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: This investment will help New Zealand stay match fit on the international stage. If we want to continue to attract world-class events to New Zealand, we need to have world-class facilities to go along with it. This investment not only futureproofs centre court against the weather but also expands the types of events that can be held there, attracting more visitors and supporting our economy. The arena is also an important asset for the Auckland community, promoting the growth and development of tennis for players of all ages.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cca60a2fa21245469ea1e4ce12b85fee\u0022\u003ERima Nakhle\u003C/span\u003E: How will this investment benefit tourism in Auckland and beyond?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224e6ad46ed24d41aba76af7d46a5feaac\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: This investment is a game-changer. The ASB Classic alone attracts thousands of visitors each year, and next year will be the 70th year of this event. In 2024, just this one event alone brought significant economic benefit to Auckland, resulting in 16,600 visitor nights to the region and injecting $3.4 million into the economy. With a covered centre court, we\u2019ll be able to serve up more events year-round, and welcome even more fans, players, and international media. More visitors means more bookings, more meals, and more spending in local shops and hotels.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a9a2b23de3844504816345caf5cacb9a\u0022\u003ERima Nakhle\u003C/span\u003E: What feedback has she received on this announcement?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002252da125f1dc946e0bb2d75d078455253\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: I promise this is the last one: we have had a volley of positive feedback. Tennis Auckland CEO Rohan West has said, \u201CIt\u2019s absolutely massive. I can\u2019t underplay the significance of it.\u201D, saying it gives the organisation the confidence to move ahead with the project. The Auckland Business Chamber has said the announcement is \u201CReally welcome news for Auckland. Ongoing matters like this make our biggest city a better place to live in, work in, and more competitive with our Aussie cousin cities.\u201D. This announcement is already proving\u2014oops, one more\u2014to be a winning shot, which means New Zealand\u2019s tennis future is game, set, and match. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022443c9bf472044200a94a1d092a748e56\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 5\u2014Economic Growth\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u0022e128fbc7d9c44bb5ab84f22597af1143\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e128fbc7d9c44bb5ab84f22597af1143\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Question No. 5, the Hon Ginny Andersen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229d4f022d8e994c9e8105a567a0ebd729\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, here\u2019s McEnroe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220750364c2c1444d0ae00bced720f964e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002293f61d0415364d9e9a2f2afe85420cc5\u0022\u003EHon Ginny Andersen\u003C/span\u003E: T\u0113n\u0101 koe\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002274c6c0b7dd0d47daab872611babb7851\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry. Just wait while one or two people up the back there calm themselves down.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220750364c2c1444d0ae00bced720f964e\u0022 data-id=\u0022ce9c449cef4d4690b8b2ecd50e843074\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220750364c2c1444d0ae00bced720f964e\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ce9c449cef4d4690b8b2ecd50e843074\u0022\u003EHon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Economic Growth: Is her economic plan responsible for higher unemployment and more business failures; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022 data-id=\u002214c10ccfe54749fbb74a7406e506cdd0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002214c10ccfe54749fbb74a7406e506cdd0\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister for Economic Growth):\u003C/span\u003E No. Is it just me or have I answered this question half a dozen times already? Higher unemployment is a result of an economic downturn driven by high interest rates\u2014high interest rates needed to bring down inflation, fuelled by reckless and undisciplined Government spending. That may be the member\u2019s economic plan; it is not mine, thank goodness.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220750364c2c1444d0ae00bced720f964e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295d3aba1b26e49d4ae0da9e8759d607e\u0022\u003EHon Ginny Andersen\u003C/span\u003E: Why then are there 36,000 people who are not in work and liquidations are up 26 percent?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228f324d48c9184134a62f54d57e74b9b5\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, these are the terrible human consequences of a down-turning economy which results when it is mismanaged as poorly as it was by the last Government. It is also the case, though\u2014I would point out to members\u2014that the number of unemployed New Zealanders at this point still remains lower than Grant Robertson was forecasting it would be at this point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220750364c2c1444d0ae00bced720f964e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221f3d052dcd7b4e38b97ec1685af89732\u0022\u003EHon Ginny Andersen\u003C/span\u003E: Why does she continue to refer to the pre-election forecasts for unemployment but not the GDP forecasts, which are three percentage points higher than what she has delivered?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002210eb6581691b4909bc1bcd82875d516d\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Because as the Treasury has previously acknowledged extensively on the record, they vastly overestimated their growth assumptions in the pre-election fiscal update, which may have been convenient for the Minister at the time but was inaccurate none the less.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022154727523a59431ab210aea1cf707272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224e815dfef1c44a139fda7eb224ff4e23\u0022\u003EHon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u003C/span\u003E: How can she justify her plan when it has led to rising power and rent costs and a failing construction industry that has forced Auckland-based business Pipe Vision to go under and to cut 100 jobs?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022447a9649cd4c4a36a6fcd4f16b6b1e25\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, if that member\u2019s version of economics is that every Government should take responsibility for every firm that ever fails, then I invite her to have a chat with Barbara Edmonds. But I would also point out that the assertion that rents have gone up under our Government is not correct. In fact, what we have seen is downward pressure on rents since being elected after a period of extreme rent rises under the previous Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220fe7508c7b8a47378c4c88fe1ce69fcb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b300edfd2774927851dc4dbc63156e3\u0022\u003ECushla Tangaere-Manuel\u003C/span\u003E: Has Ikaroa-R\u0101whiti been left out of her plan when the Hawke\u2019s Bay lost 837 jobs in just one quarter and Eastern Institute of Technology, Tair\u0101whiti lost 40 academic and support roles, who were there to help young people into work?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022106f57c809304352bb617dcce1a78bc4\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, no. How could they possibly be left out when they are represented by Dana Kirkpatrick and Katie Nimon, two of the extraordinary members of Parliament in the National Party caucus?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002242067e22c7a349218b3b868f58eda79d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002235a12f3254b44a60b3d3fadf2c6bfa9e\u0022\u003ERachel Boyack\u003C/span\u003E: Is her economic plan responsible for the more than 300 workers from Carter Holt Harvey, Sealord\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227551dc3a18e54cc4aac7baf7ee65309d\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: Shame!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002242067e22c7a349218b3b868f58eda79d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d3873a53fd654f509751cd05c77869dd\u0022\u003ERachel Boyack\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and Proper Crisps in Nelson-Tasman\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226d629394b08c456d98bbb36dedad1f36\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: Shame!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002242067e22c7a349218b3b868f58eda79d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224c276cce205a4f15a6d2bbb2719514df\u0022\u003ERachel Boyack\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014who are losing their jobs\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002250d049671cb34dc7bfc63d2817a21a11\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry; stop. Who is calling out during a question? You don\u2019t do that. [Rawiri Waititi wags his finger] I never wag a finger like that; it\u2019s something that is particular to you. Rachel Boyack\u2014start again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002242067e22c7a349218b3b868f58eda79d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022320074be5e7a4ec682bdaa0200b81c02\u0022\u003ERachel Boyack\u003C/span\u003E: Is her economic plan responsible for the more than 300 workers from Carter Holt Harvey, Sealord, and Proper Crisps in Nelson-Tasman, who are losing their jobs or should they not take it personally?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022afe331e803bf4d77b04eebea147b689d\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: No. what our economic plan is directly responsible for is more than half a billion dollars having been committed to rebuilding Nelson Hospital and the fast tracking of a major housing development that on her watch would have been tied up in red tape for years. [Interruption] We\u2019ll take responsibility. [Interruption] And I think you will find that the people of Nelson would like it if you\u2019d just welcome the investment in their hospital. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022340fae502cee4530b28213631aa84674\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I think if we\u2019re going to have that sort of outburst, we\u2019ll just move on to the next question. It\u2019s largely in Opposition\u2019s hands, but you cannot ask a question and then engage in a barrage like that and expect that you\u2019re going to be given other opportunities to do the same.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc5df856d19845fdaba4418087cd3bba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229684c5dde2974705aaf164b724a6636b\u0022\u003EHon Jan Tinetti\u003C/span\u003E: In what way is two plants closing and 249 jobs being lost in Tokoroa a sign that her plan is working?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a60ed5226ba7428b876900010f2fe6ba\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, as I pointed out to her colleague Ginny Andersen in the previous answer, a number of factors contribute to firms no longer being profitable. One of those factors is very high interest rates, which is why our Government has worked so hard to take pressure off inflation and ensure the Reserve Bank has had space to reduce those interest rates. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a641ad395972462cb002f90786dbe3ec\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve repeatedly now, over a number of days, expressed the view that the sort of ongoing chips are not reasonable, nor are they witty, nor do they add anything to the debate and members should refrain from doing it. There\u2019s one particular member who I know is now diligently looking at a piece of paper who would do well to take that on board.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220750364c2c1444d0ae00bced720f964e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002259b23c9b2c8948ab8c3c4e64b328e9fa\u0022\u003EHon Ginny Andersen\u003C/span\u003E: Has she considered asking for help with her numeracy, considering that she considers negative growth to be a sign of recovery?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229152b6828ead4f5d89ff7d36f4ff66a2\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: No. As my mother once said to me, if you can\u2019t say anything nice, which I can\u2019t right now, don\u2019t say anything at all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222c964368f3bf49dcb42432656ac3ddb9\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 6\u2014Conservation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002227d19573a8ba4d8283b17374978c8ea2\u0022 data-id=\u00224ee4248c1d0e4e5ba74ab49bbf6d7792\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227d19573a8ba4d8283b17374978c8ea2\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224ee4248c1d0e4e5ba74ab49bbf6d7792\u0022\u003EGRANT McCALLUM (National\u2014Northland)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Conservation: What recent reports has the Minister seen on the Hauraki Gulf?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022 data-id=\u00223fed582f75964167b119ab618f5bbebe\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223fed582f75964167b119ab618f5bbebe\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA (Minister of Conservation):\u003C/span\u003E On Tuesday, with the backing of all the parties that were present that day in this fine Parliament, the tautoko and support of iwi around T\u012Bkapa Maona, and thousands of New Zealanders, we passed this bill that will triple marine protection in the Hauraki Gulf. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003EVarious groups have welcomed and celebrated this step: the Environmental Defence Society, of course, calling it a landmark achievement for conservation; Forest \u0026amp; Bird saying it\u2019s a significant victory for the Hauraki Gulf; and Seafood New Zealand welcoming the bill as a balanced approach for marine protection. I look forward to seeing the recovery of this iconic, majestic, and epic place, moving forward. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227d19573a8ba4d8283b17374978c8ea2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002280187a654aea4454ab33558c787d8b76\u0022\u003EGrant McCallum\u003C/span\u003E: What benefits will the new protections have for marine conservation and ecosystems? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a1219cedd9f543058f1cd0858135a435\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: This bill introduces 19 new, expanded marine protection areas, and is the largest increase in marine protection in Aotearoa New Zealand in over a decade. The amount of area that is to be protected here is twice the size of Singapore. We hope to see snapper density increase; spiny rock lobster increase\u2014I just want to acknowledge Minister Jones in his protection for that\u2014the recovery of ecologically important species such as corals, cockles, anemones, and mussels; and, of course, the reduction of kina barrens. Also protected will be some of the smaller and less well-known species such as colourful and flamboyant nudibranches, which have helped inspire some of the outfits of the hard-working people in my office this week. Effective marine protection, we know, helps restore the health and mauri of seascapes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227d19573a8ba4d8283b17374978c8ea2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a66cb5cfc3484ba6a2315003173ff548\u0022\u003EGrant McCallum\u003C/span\u003E: How will this support jobs and greater economic growth in the region?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022994ee51c277b490fbb02c637b5df51f3\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: A 2023 NZ Institute of Economic Research report stated that the economic value of the Hauraki Gulf is $100 billion and produces over $5 billion of value each and every year, to this country. There\u2019s a lot more potential for economic activity in the Gulf because it can generate tourism opportunities, such as diving, snorkelling, and watching marine mammals and porpoises. We know that healthy marine environments can boost tourism by looking at the Goat Island Te H\u0101were-a-Maki Marine Reserve, celebrating its 50th anniversary this week, which accommodates and hosts over 350,000 visitors per annum. The economy and the environment go together. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022154727523a59431ab210aea1cf707272\u0022 data-id=\u00223d22e372b9474555a75a8b61a7df93c9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022154727523a59431ab210aea1cf707272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223d22e372b9474555a75a8b61a7df93c9\u0022\u003EHon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Why did he allow eleventh-hour lobbying to influence changes that now enable commercial fishing in high protection areas, when reports show that it will further damage the health of the Gulf?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002278b9e9faa9904e7384bff9c80e3dd7f1\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: As you will all know, as members of this House, my astute selection is sometimes a compromise, as is moving legislation through this House. But isn\u2019t it ironic that the very member who asked that question today also, along with her party, voted for it yesterday. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227d19573a8ba4d8283b17374978c8ea2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022210342b1aa2a46e1a22d4dc006fb2bc3\u0022\u003EGrant McCallum\u003C/span\u003E: Looking ahead, how can we leverage the partnerships that have been formed to capture more opportunities?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002205857d2429fa45e481f74d60ae278d81\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: Te M\u0101ngai o te Whare, this bill presents a fantastic opportunity for co-investment into the Hauraki Gulf, and getting to this point of having this bill passed is a result of over a decade of collaboration; can I mention Sir Robert Fenwick and Nikki Kaye in this light. It signals what is possible when we work together\u2014k\u0101wanatanga, iwi, industry, various groups like Live Ocean\u2014to produce outcomes for all New Zealanders, especially Aucklanders. This is just the beginning; Nicola Rata-MacDonald, the co-chair of the Hauraki Gulf Forum and CEO of Ng\u0101ti Manuhiri Settlement Trust said it has taken an army of united voices to protect this taonga, and I congratulate everyone on their involvement and look forward to our next steps. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203a9a78995df41d999aa5550770febd3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d97dc6c3daae4b8ea4716ef49b9171f9\u0022\u003ELan Pham\u003C/span\u003E: What is his message to the 32,000 Kiwis who signed the World Wide Fund for Nature\u2019s petition urging his Government to remove the carve-out that allows commercial fishing in the Gulf\u2019s high protection areas due to the risk that it sets a dangerous precedent where industry lobbyists could weaken future marine protections?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227d19573a8ba4d8283b17374978c8ea2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228c27da3dcadb437e82d00f885d36a802\u0022\u003EGRANT McCALLUM\u003C/span\u003E: My message is this: to the 32,000 people and the 5.5 million New Zealanders and Kiwis that voted in their elected officials to this glorious institution of Parliament, all parties present in Parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of the very comments and the very provisions that the member asked for. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cdc10612df5a490abb5dc67069fc9f32\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Can I ask the Minister as to where are the customers for those limited commercial fishing operations\u2014are they New Zealand customers or overseas customers? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a4f4123a18347b1a044b8e5c7fd6e06\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: I am advised that the customers for those particular ring net fishing operators are New Zealand and particularly Auckland customers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00227ffd4d6bcf9a4302b3fb389ae3637700\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 7\u2014Social Development and Employment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022 data-id=\u002237c5a7a4a7994dd19617c84b0d26dfb7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002237c5a7a4a7994dd19617c84b0d26dfb7\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH (Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she stand by the Government\u0027s decision to apply tightened eligibility criteria to 18- and 19-year-olds accessing jobseeker support (health condition or disability); if so, why?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022 data-id=\u0022d507a0ea090049dbb3f0082bb42bad23\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d507a0ea090049dbb3f0082bb42bad23\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Social Development and Employment):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, jobseeker support (health condition or disability) is a temporary support for people who are limited in their ability to work for two years because of a health condition, injury, or disability. It\u0027s designed to support them while they recover and prepare to re-enter the workforce. Those with permanent or severe conditions are supported through the Supported Living Payment which recognises long-term incapacity. Our Government has high aspirations for young New Zealanders, and we make no apologies for encouraging them into education, further training, or employment instead of welfare. This approach helps young people to build independence rather than be reliant on welfare.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cb419d741e2d47e08d429329ed36481f\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Does she agree with the Disabled Persons Assembly who told 1News last night that disabled people face barriers to access the Supported Living Payment due to a lack of access to diagnoses, and, if so, does she accept there are several people with long term conditions who are on jobseeker support (health and disabilities)?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200a82f3efefa4b8b8ed87fb25e5cc35c\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: What I can say is that we have aspirations for all young New Zealanders and it was fantastic, just last week, to meet with an organisation employing young disabled people. I saw how important and how critical it is for them to be in employment and the massive difference it makes in terms of their lives.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022503b465c2cb14a6e9f8c146e5ec7a710\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Is it fair to subject 18- and 19-year-olds who are receiving jobseeker support (health condition or disability) to the new parental assistance test when they\u0027re suffering from severe ill mental health, recovering from a car accident, or undergoing cancer treatment as reported by 1News?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229f656f23d7ce41219bd768ca42a7d31f\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: Let me be clear that the jobseeker (health condition and disability) is, as I said in my primary answer, for temporary conditions. We have other systems like ACC to support people who have had severe accidents and the Supported Living Payment for those with permanent incapacity. What I won\u0027t make any apology for in this House is our Government\u0027s ambition and expectation for 18- and 19-year-olds to have a great life and not be stuck on welfare for another 18 years of their life.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222eb009df5d784b2e9df94059f0a84286\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Why restrict access to income support for people who cannot work, temporarily or otherwise?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227573d9c1c0a0431db1668d06c1a17ff0\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: Because we want to see them engaged in education, engaged in training, and preparing for work, and if they can\u0027t, then to be supported by their parents. It\u0027s a very simple policy. We\u0027ve got high expectations, and we want young people to do well and not be trapped for a lifetime on welfare.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022abe576124ecc4be389e1c6d94030641e\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Does she accept that many of the people on that benefit that she\u0027s now restricting access to are also not able to go into education due to those very same health conditions or disabilities?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a1229fe136924642a761525028dcda13\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: That\u0027s exactly why there are programmes to support them. We don\u0027t think that it is acceptable in a country like ours to leave a whole generation of New Zealanders to rot on welfare. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223179b2369dd441f99e487df89682b244\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Question No. 8, Glen Bennett\u2014before you start, Mr Bennett, there is a huge amount of conversation going on that needs to stop. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bedce22240e14859b856ff4c98df5502\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 8\u2014Tourism and Hospitality\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022 data-id=\u00228753ef08ebd34446a2bd17b53245c11d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228753ef08ebd34446a2bd17b53245c11d\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: Are recent hospitality industry closures the result of the Going For Growth strategy; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022 data-id=\u0022c925cd669ec2419da387bd1a4396d547\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c925cd669ec2419da387bd1a4396d547\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Tourism and Hospitality):\u003C/span\u003E Our Going for Growth strategy is about strengthening our economy and creating the conditions for businesses and Kiwis to succeed. Recent closures in the hospitality sector are primarily driven by economic pressures, including high inflation and high interest rates, which were the legacy of the previous Government. That\u2019s why our Government\u2019s relentless focus on economic growth is so important so that businesses have the confidence to invest, to hire, and to grow. Our investments into tourism and hospitality will mean more international visitors, more full tables in our restaurants, more jobs being created across the country, and a stronger economy overall.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fab03dfe0ab546b7b881819a76ea1bc3\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Does she consider the more than 2,500 hospitality closures and almost 300 liquidations in the past 12 months evidence that her Government is driving economic growth for the hospitality industry?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219509989f21045c09b1037477b32ebfe\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve got great news for that member. In August 2025, there were 135 more businesses in accommodation and food services than the previous month and that is trending up. That\u2019s great news. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225322e0a4529b497cbc59faf0515037dd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cb6277d06241442881b25db97e29aaa7\u0022\u003EShanan Halbert\u003C/span\u003E: How can hospitality in Auckland\u2019s CBD thrive when the Heart of the City survey showed that 77 percent of business owners say that the Government does not listen to their needs?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222ca748e91a35491ebdafa79980374f3d\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: I disagree. If you look at another quote from Hospitality New Zealand, you can see that they are incredibly supportive of the Government\u2019s major tourism and events boost and they know the enormous difference that that will make.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002267432262fde047259be3402a058f35ce\u0022\u003EGreg O\u0027Connor\u003C/span\u003E: What does it say about the state of the economy when popular Wellington venue Fortune Favours is forced to close, saying, the \u201Ccost of living crisis has proven too difficult\u201D, after business dropped nearly 45 percent in two years?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224b48d5bcf1e948e0b26206b8b6d38045\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: That member should have listened to the answer I gave to my first question, which was to say exactly that economic challenges from high inflation and high interest rates, which have led to an economic recession, have made it difficult for businesses to operate. The good news, though, is that in the last month, we\u2019ve seen more new businesses open than close.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022422422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002224e0330a9ea041a7ad31f38946c0aa73\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: How can she stand by her economic growth strategy for hospitality when thousands of hospitality businesses are closing and tens of thousands of people are still looking for work?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229461ffc1edc44dcab7bf918211623377\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: I would invite that member to actually look at the data around the tourism and hospitality sector. Hospitality job advertisements are up 3.8 percent in July compared to last July. That\u2019s great news. It\u2019s looking up. There are more jobs and we\u2019re excited about it. I\u2019m surprised that member isn\u2019t.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002207af6035b68045a1ad2bcbed5289e12b\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 9\u2014Courts\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022443f23de4cbd464f91833e6c466c98c0\u0022 data-id=\u0022fe68809aa8234aa5ad1f94d1c08f947d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022443f23de4cbd464f91833e6c466c98c0\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fe68809aa8234aa5ad1f94d1c08f947d\u0022\u003ETODD STEPHENSON (ACT)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Courts: What outcomes has she seen from this Government\u0027s focus on delivering faster justice for New Zealanders?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002216829a90e47644e3809ecc77bed3916d\u0022 data-id=\u0022ac56e78c7ba14fd187cdbe7a1d09b00e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002216829a90e47644e3809ecc77bed3916d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ac56e78c7ba14fd187cdbe7a1d09b00e\u0022\u003EHon NICOLE McKEE (Minister for Courts):\u003C/span\u003E This Government is committed to restoring law and order and improving the timeliness of our courts. That\u0027s why I was pleased to see reports from the District Court\u0027s civil jurisdiction showing active cases down 20 percent in the year to July 2025 and the average age of active cases dropping by a remarkable 36 percent over the same period. This means thousands of New Zealanders are getting their cases resolved months sooner. Justice delayed is justice denied, and that\u0027s why this Government is focused on fixing what matters to deliver fastest justice for New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022443f23de4cbd464f91833e6c466c98c0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002254836fdb13db4dc5a87f7cc6bc4267d4\u0022\u003ETodd Stephenson\u003C/span\u003E: What timeliness improvements has she seen regarding the Disputes Tribunal?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002216829a90e47644e3809ecc77bed3916d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222b4b0f1264c14eca85caa88c2c1e21db\u0022\u003EHon NICOLE McKEE\u003C/span\u003E: The Disputes Tribunal has had an outstanding year, completing more than 900 extra cases in the year to July 2025 compared to the year before. Even more pleasing is the tribunal\u0027s focus on targeting older cases, which has led to a 21 percent drop in aged files. That\u0027s 134 fewer aged cases than in July last year. This means more disputes being resolved quickly and fewer New Zealanders left waiting for decisions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022443f23de4cbd464f91833e6c466c98c0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ccd0bb08815d4d6f949fa77de3c99e09\u0022\u003ETodd Stephenson\u003C/span\u003E: What progress has been made in the Coroners Court?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002216829a90e47644e3809ecc77bed3916d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002275de700559a949b3a18b9325af5b9e4e\u0022\u003EHon NICOLE McKEE\u003C/span\u003E: I\u0027m pleased to report that the Coroners Court has reduced its active caseload by 15 percent thanks to the introduction of associate coroners, clinical advisers, and relief coroners. The number of active cases now sits at levels not seen since 2020. As a result, families are getting closure sooner and cases are moving through the system faster.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022443f23de4cbd464f91833e6c466c98c0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229fc3ec0ede2a456687150998389588fd\u0022\u003ETodd Stephenson\u003C/span\u003E: What additional work does the Government have under way to continue to improve court timeliness?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002216829a90e47644e3809ecc77bed3916d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002216acb5043148466bb4970c6ca4ab3f5e\u0022\u003EHon NICOLE McKEE\u003C/span\u003E: This Government has a strong pipeline of reforms to deliver faster justice. We\u0027re expanding community magistrates\u2019 powers so that they can manage more District Court cases and raising the High Court judicial cap to increase capacity. We will ensure remote participation in our courts is fit for purpose. I could go on, but instead I\u0027ll finish by thanking the judiciary, courts, and the Ministry of Justice staff, who, like the Government, are working hard to fix what matters and improve the timeliness of our courts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022027859c758c64433bec4502815345f09\u0022\u003EGreg O\u0027Connor\u003C/span\u003E: What additional funding will she seek for the courts given the Chief Justice\u0027s view that our justice system is under considerable stress?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002216829a90e47644e3809ecc77bed3916d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dc391d9450554cc099cf4e84ae27ce51\u0022\u003EHon NICOLE McKEE\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you for that patsy question from the member across. Budget 2025 contained funding of $18.3 million over four years to fund two additional High Court judges and associated staff, as well as expand the number of community magistrates by three and appointing the Chief Community Magistrate. This extra capacity will help relieve pressure across the justice system and improve timeliness, leading to a reduction in backlogs and the time that people do spend on remand. The Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill has been introduced, which will make changes across three Acts to improve court procedure and increase the number of High Court judges that can be appointed. We are committed to fixing what matters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e1829c02fb714a9ba719dc3653b0c41e\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 10\u2014Pacific Peoples\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022fd2c9c3aa7974099bfcaac8ea7452994\u0022 data-id=\u0022e19f746b5d8f454d8d509765c3787392\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd2c9c3aa7974099bfcaac8ea7452994\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e19f746b5d8f454d8d509765c3787392\u0022\u003EHon JENNY SALESA (Labour\u2014Panmure-\u014Ct\u0101huhu)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Pacific Peoples: Ni sa bula vinaka. Happy Fijian Language Week. Does he believe that the Ministry for Pacific Peoples has a role to play in getting more Pasifika into work or training; if so, how will it address the current unemployment rate for Pasifika peoples, which is double what it was at the end of 2023 when the Government came into office?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022673069789fe74d02ac517109c173ccbd\u0022 data-id=\u0022c3411b40659b4047aaff4192ce5656d1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022673069789fe74d02ac517109c173ccbd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c3411b40659b4047aaff4192ce5656d1\u0022\u003EHon Dr SHANE RETI (Minister for Pacific Peoples):\u003C/span\u003E Bula, Mr Speaker. I am aware of the recent rise in Pasifika unemployment, which is concerning. The Ministry for Pacific Peoples, alongside the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and the education sector, have a role to play in placing more Pacific peoples into work or training. We are relentlessly focused on growing the economy, to support Pacific peoples, and all New Zealanders, with better job opportunities, higher wages, and a brighter future. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd2c9c3aa7974099bfcaac8ea7452994\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220604feecf3b84bcb821fe7221953d581\u0022\u003EHon Jenny Salesa\u003C/span\u003E: Does he regret repeatedly cutting funding to the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, including cutting $22 million out of the Tupu Aotearoa work-ready programme at a time when Pacifica unemployment is 12.1 percent, more than double the national average?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022673069789fe74d02ac517109c173ccbd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002259dc4ad3b77b4e6a9e4d7bf05d840cbc\u0022\u003EHon Dr SHANE RETI\u003C/span\u003E: What I regret is the actions the previous Government took that put us in this position.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd2c9c3aa7974099bfcaac8ea7452994\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022456e5a44215f450ba552797ce3424c4e\u0022\u003EHon Jenny Salesa\u003C/span\u003E: Was the $22 million cut from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples\u2019 Tupu Aotearora work-ready programme transferred, in its entirety, to MSD for targeted Pasifika employment and training programmes; if so, what are they?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022673069789fe74d02ac517109c173ccbd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221be2e3beefcb4fd8ac59be084d0e61be\u0022\u003EHon Dr SHANE RETI\u003C/span\u003E: The transfer of Tupu Aotearora to the MSD programme was to generate efficiencies by collaborating with two programmes that were, effectively, producing much of the same. The complete transfer did not occur to MSD.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd2c9c3aa7974099bfcaac8ea7452994\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ca0cd3ec62ea458181c459f18c3a8c22\u0022\u003EHon Jenny Salesa\u003C/span\u003E: How can he say that the MSD programmes was actually for efficiencies when he previously claimed that it, and I quote, \u201Cwas particularly to look at those who are not in employment, education, and training, different to MSD in that it wasn\u2019t limited or capped by the age bracket, like MSD\u201D? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022673069789fe74d02ac517109c173ccbd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ec94785b6c845be96a337c45bd645f4\u0022\u003EHon Dr SHANE RETI\u003C/span\u003E: I don\u2019t have responsibility for MSD, but I do have responsibility for the programmes that the Ministry for Pacific Peoples brings to the question of Pasifika employment. That includes the Pacific Business Trust and Pacific Business Village, which placed hundreds of people in the last financial year; the partnership with Pacific Media Network, through the Moana Reo Media Fund, which, again, has placed hundreds of jobs; and Pacific Building Affordable Homes and Our Whare Our Fale, which are stimulating Pacific-led construction and employment, as just a few examples.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd2c9c3aa7974099bfcaac8ea7452994\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221e0d5289edf64a9c827c594bffd7a3b3\u0022\u003EHon Jenny Salesa\u003C/span\u003E: When will he accept responsibility and take action to help Pasifika into employment or training, when, in the last year alone, 6,100 more Pasifika people are now unemployed and 1,900 more Pasifika young people are not in education, employment, or training?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022673069789fe74d02ac517109c173ccbd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022557155a24f7949a5832eb22f980a691a\u0022\u003EHon Dr SHANE RETI\u003C/span\u003E: I acknowledge the challenge with employment for Pacific people. I\u2019ve already identified three initiatives that the Ministry for Pacific Peoples has responsibility for, in collaboration with other ministries, including the Ministry for Social Development. I would highlight Alo Vaka, which, amongst other things, developed 14 micro-credentialing courses in the last financial year and more than 6,000 micro-credentials delivered to Pasifika, particularly Pasifika youth.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228a1ded9736f34bf3993e9e5c0434bcca\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 11\u2014Mental Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002288978fb9592a4911a8e47eae04d164f3\u0022 data-id=\u0022c74225f386304696b6b1bb2b8fdbd892\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002288978fb9592a4911a8e47eae04d164f3\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c74225f386304696b6b1bb2b8fdbd892\u0022\u003EDr VANESSA WEENINK (National\u2014Banks Peninsula)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Mental Health: What recent announcements has he made on the Government\u0027s mental health targets?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002224cf2b07c863455d8ff343c5bc53b590\u0022 data-id=\u0022a46a3a1c445c47c8a1adbee2c8e43b79\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002224cf2b07c863455d8ff343c5bc53b590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a46a3a1c445c47c8a1adbee2c8e43b79\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY (Minister for Mental Health):\u003C/span\u003E One of my top priorities is faster access to mental health support for all New Zealanders. Last week, I released quarter four mental health target data, which shows that more Kiwis are getting faster access to mental health support. I\u2019ve always said that I won\u2019t be just happy with the national average; it\u2019s the ability to measure performance in the 20 health districts that will make a real difference. No matter where you live, this Government is committed to ensuring, when someone is reaching out for support, that timely support is there.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002288978fb9592a4911a8e47eae04d164f3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002229cba793cdcd42e58c496392421c82f9\u0022\u003EDr Vanessa Weenink\u003C/span\u003E: What progress has been made in achieving the faster access to primary mental health and addiction target?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002224cf2b07c863455d8ff343c5bc53b590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fa24bd2a86fc4f0a9cab8049d6a0b89b\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: Good news: this Government is focused on delivering faster access to support, more front-line workers, and a better crisis response. That\u2019s why this Government set a target of 80 percent of people being seen in primary mental health services within one week. We are meeting that target, with 83.8 percent being seen within one week. In the South Island, access to primary mental health support has improved from 75 percent in quarter one to 84.7 percent in quarter four\u2014well above the target. The Southern district went from being one of the worst-performing districts, at 66.4 percent, to one of the best, at 91 percent of Southern residents accessing services within one week.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002288978fb9592a4911a8e47eae04d164f3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002201b054fa55a44e4b9a92a02dae3e47ef\u0022\u003EDr Vanessa Weenink\u003C/span\u003E: What progress has been made in reducing wait times in emergency departments?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002224cf2b07c863455d8ff343c5bc53b590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a04a7c6c08b1470da998ef844d22167c\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: Improving our crisis response is a key part of our mental health plan. Across the country, all regions have improved the number of people waiting less than six hours in emergency departments to receive timely mental health support. This is a target where we have seen the biggest improvements. In the Northern region, there\u2019s been an 11.3 percent improvement, which has been driven by an increase of 8.9 percent in Northland, and an impressive 20.8 percent improvement in Auckland. When Kiwis, their loved ones, friends, or family members make the brave step of reaching out for help, this Government is committed to ensuring we have the right support in place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002288978fb9592a4911a8e47eae04d164f3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224b7ab9ac1e634572b3f32a436be98c51\u0022\u003EDr Vanessa Weenink\u003C/span\u003E: What progress has been made in achieving the faster access to specialist mental health and addiction target?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002224cf2b07c863455d8ff343c5bc53b590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022828376a64e8d4057b8d4ef096a9b6c61\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: Our mental health plan is working nationally. We\u2019re achieving the specialist target of 80 percent of people receiving support within three weeks. It\u2019s pleasing to see areas like Taranaki and South Canterbury seeing 90 percent of residents within three weeks\u2014however, there is still work to do to lift performance in some districts. That\u2019s why I meet regularly with Health New Zealand regional leaders to ensure plans are in place to lift areas of underperformance and ensure we\u2019re constantly improving access to mental health services. The data shows that we\u2019re turning the corner on reducing wait times. We\u2019re also increasing the front-line mental health workforce, which has grown by 10 percent since coming into office, with the child and adolescent workforce growing by 19 percent and peer support lived experience by almost 100 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002220c57932f9af48de842b96485fb2d010\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 12\u2014Justice\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022 data-id=\u0022bb8c750a7cd047958eac8d0a42b8c4d8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E12. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bb8c750a7cd047958eac8d0a42b8c4d8\u0022\u003ETAMATHA PAUL (Green\u2014Wellington Central)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Justice: Why are M\u0101ori disproportionately overrepresented in prison populations in Aotearoa?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022 data-id=\u0022487d8348d61d459aa6b4360e1ee724c4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022487d8348d61d459aa6b4360e1ee724c4\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister of Justice):\u003C/span\u003E It is a sad reality that M\u0101ori are overrepresented in prison, and nobody is happy with that fact. The consistent focus of the justice system over many decades has been to reduce that overrepresentation, and it has proven very difficult. As to why, there will, naturally, be a variety of opinions. At one level, the make-up of the current prison population primarily reflects offending rates in New Zealand. As the recent Long-Term Insights Briefing on imprisonment in New Zealand outlined, \u201CMost people serving sentences in prison in New Zealand have been convicted of serious sexual or violent offending. New Zealand prisons are not full of people in prison for minor charges.\u201D It is also a fact that M\u0101ori are disproportionately overrepresented as victims of crime in New Zealand, which is why this Government is focused on restoring real consequences for crime and reducing the number of victims of crime. That is our primary focus in the justice sector, regardless of ethnicity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d66de6eceb3a4a7b925c7c95bd04b6b5\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister agree that it is important for Corrections to accurately record the ethnicity of incarcerated people; and, if so, why hasn\u2019t the Government implemented action 5.1 of the H\u014Dkai Rangi Strategy to \u201CAccurately record ethnicity, descent, and iwi affiliation \u2026 (consistent and in conjunction with Stats New Zealand standards and iwi)\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cee5280df66c4fc1976622ad2c3df865\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: That is probably a question best directed to the Minister of Corrections, but I\u2019m sure every effort is made to accurately record data.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d2838af2321f40e6ae8585e51a1c64ba\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. I wasn\u2019t able to get a good answer to my question because of the jurisdiction\u2014[Interruption].\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222cf160221e424437a124eb213c6daeff\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry. There\u2019s a bit of a hum\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a61951401dab497a8b866606c92db208\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, a lot of noise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022267f26ddca34400a9876c2ba17485205\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014in the gallery so I can\u2019t hear you. Speak clearly into your microphone.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220018e672fd164550a3c90e0a0dbb92b5\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: Yup. For context, Mr Speaker, my question is about the overrepresentation of M\u0101ori in prison populations. Originally, it was directed to the Minister of Corrections but was redirected to the Minister of Justice. My supplementary question just now, asking about the H\u014Dkai Rangi Strategy, was not answered because it is within the delegation of\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ced15174ed634a27a689a98069d4434e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll tell you what, ask your question again\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223a0f16c36c6c45c5847eccd78baf62e6\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: Again? Yep.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eb5e13e397d842a19a1a92cdae2b6653\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014because if the Government has decided that this is the Minister who can answer it, we should expect an answer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002276c9607776634e538752602da129e554\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I\u0027ll repeat my question: does the Minister agree that it is important for Corrections to accurately record the ethnicity of incarcerated people; and, if so, why hasn\u0027t the Government implemented action 5.1 of the H\u014Dkai Rangi strategy to \u201CAccurately record ethnicity, descent, and iwi affiliation data\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229eb66988677141e795baf4b7e795e5bb\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: In answer to the first part of the question: yes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c1ef218301714fca826a6a4e45acc5be\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister think that defunding the police and letting offenders go without prosecution has any chance of helping innocent M\u0101ori victims?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022517aa3db802e4f75b39b3689e9997135\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: No, I don\u0027t think that would be helpful to M\u0101ori victims of crime, and that certainly appears to be the Greens\u2019 policy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e5ebd3a42b4246e3ba577dc7f08e9db9\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister know whether the methods currently used by the Department of Corrections for ethnicity data collection are giving an accurate view of who is in prison?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fa0251f2c9014c69ad4438e574643d29\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I don\u0027t have that detail to hand. I certainly can confirm that Corrections and the broader justice sector are very focused primarily on reducing the number of victims of crime, regardless of their ethnicity; unlike the previous Government, which had a focus on reducing the number of people in prison irrespective of what was going on in the community. Our focus is on reducing the number of victims of crime.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c4137ca4e42d4fcdbc0e9aec25593e02\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: What evidence does he have that a higher prison population makes M\u0101ori safer?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022445e70f3446c4461b2d7134fa816601a\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, if you\u0027re wanting to reduce the number of victims of crime, a very good place to start is with that very, very small section of New Zealand society that creates multiple victims over and over again. The primary focus is effective rehabilitation of people who have been involved in violent crime, but there are some people that need to be kept out of society for a while so that the rest of society can be kept safe. That is a pretty important part of our justice response.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002216829a90e47644e3809ecc77bed3916d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c9f5ceb669b14e3a8fd24b1dbe3d8ecc\u0022\u003EHon Nicole McKee\u003C/span\u003E: Is it this Government\u0027s position that if someone does the crime then they\u0027re going to do the time, regardless of their ethnicity?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227dce4111e96e42a59943ca929b74be40\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, indeed, that is our position. It is not from a sole focus on the punitive side of justice\u2014though that is important\u2014it is part of a broader focus of our justice sector response, which is to reduce the number of victims of crime. The good news is that collectively in this country we\u0027re making great progress towards that target that the Government has to reduce the overall number of victims of crime. When we came in, there were 185,000 New Zealanders suffering violent offences; we\u0027ve reduced that down to 156,000 in the latest stats. That is still 156,000 too many New Zealanders, and we\u0027re determined to make further progress.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ce5d4ba6efe44dcdbebb1fae0ac61fd8\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: Was Moana Jackson wrong when he said, \u201Cthe majority of those behind bars are M\u0101ori, and the system itself reflects a punishing and very real racism.\u201D, or does he accept that the overrepresentation of M\u0101ori in prisons is a reflection of structural racism? [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d228b88064e448cbb66bf8cdaf0dd859\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Hold on! Hold on! Right-o.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225a86a980225844f88e66074ee1286253\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: In regards to structural racism, I would say that that\u2019s a very easy phrase for an academic to use, but I would say to the thousands of New Zealanders\u2014M\u0101ori, P\u0101keh\u0101, and from a wide variety of ethnicities\u2014who get up early every morning to work at Corrections or the courts or in many parts of the justice sector, the suggestion that they are just mere cogs in the wheel of a structurally racist regime is an insult to those people who work hard every day to do the right thing for this country and to keep New Zealanders safe. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s an appropriate way to reflect on their efforts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226b8ff4f766194de5bd303d82d57998d0\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Could the Minister tell us exactly how many M\u0101ori accused did Moana Jackson ever defend at court? [Interruption] What\u2019s wrong  with that question?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022788e8cb58bef4afcb68692882c18c54f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, it\u2019s something you could put in a written question. I doubt the Minister\u2019s got that at hand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002216829a90e47644e3809ecc77bed3916d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ed2e92e1c2bd4913b34e582510c17613\u0022\u003EHon Nicole McKee\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister also confirm that M\u0101ori are disproportionately represented among the victims of crime, and would it help to go soft on the perpetrators for reasons of political correctness?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b83af0d182d6473db943dcf21c15cbdd\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, yes, I can confirm that M\u0101ori are overrepresented amongst the victims of crime, and that is why this Government is absolutely focused in its justice policy on reducing the number of victims of crime. That\u2019s what it\u2019s all about. We have made good progress towards that goal but we are very conscious of the fact that there is a lot of progress yet to be made because New Zealanders deserve to feel safe in their communities. They do feel safer than they did a couple of years ago, but we can do so much better as a country. That\u2019s why we\u2019re focused on strong, clear, consequences for crime.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bac517c5992043b3ad60d318c14f3f21\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The time for oral questions has concluded. There is a maiden speech to follow, but we\u2019ll give everyone who needs to go to other business 30 seconds to leave the House without discussion, without any slowness of movement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022751938d5a2544507927d493880d8d63f\u0022\u003EMaiden Statements\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222688dd5db7d840e8b439b186c0e370e1\u0022\u003EMaiden Statements\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u0022e853b80f8ceb4b7887aedd02fada6fa8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e853b80f8ceb4b7887aedd02fada6fa8\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: In accordance with a determination of the Business Committee, I call on Oriini Kaipara to make her maiden address to Parliament. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022 data-id=\u0022ff547c93158c46ce8523f18d601118e5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ff547c93158c46ce8523f18d601118e5\u0022\u003EORIINI KAIPARA (Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014T\u0101maki Makaurau):\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EK\u014Drihi, k\u014Drihi, k\u014D  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EIti rearea, teitei kahikatea ka taea \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EK\u014Drihi, k\u014Drihi, k\u014D  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E[Birdsong, birdcall, call  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EThough the bellbird is small, it can conquer a tall white pine  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EBirdsong, birdcall, call]  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003ET\u0101 Tumu, kei hea r\u0101 koe ka ngaro nei? Kua hauangiangi ng\u0101 pae o ng\u0101 iwi katoa. Ko ng\u0101 k\u0101hu e rua n\u014D runga mai o Takaparawhau \u0113r\u0101 kua taka ki te p\u014D.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EE aku rangatira, Clay k\u014Drua ko P\u0101p\u0101 Grant Hawke, haere aku rangatira, haere. Mokowhiti atu ki Taupiri-k\u016Bao, hine i p\u016B\u0101wai, e hine, haere, haere. Koutou e ng\u0101 mate o te w\u0101, haere i te aukume, i te auroa, i te au t\u0113 hoki mai an\u014D. Haere e ng\u0101 mate, haere. Kei ng\u0101 pou o t\u014Dku whare wairua, hoki wairua mai, hoki wairua mai.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EKi ng\u0101 pou o Te Aho Matua, Nanny Tuki, n\u0101u te k\u014Drero, \u201Ckia mau ki Te Aka Matua, te toihuarewa tipua\u201D. Whaea K\u0101terina Te Heik\u014Dk\u014D, n\u014Du te ringa i whakairo i Te Aho M\u0101tua me \u014Dna w\u0101hanga e ono, n\u0101u i whakamahara i a m\u0101tou kia kimihia te mea ngaro.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EKi te pou o t\u014Dku reo M\u0101ori, H\u014Dri Te Pou, grandad, n\u0101u taku reo, n\u0101u i T\u016Bhoe ai taku arero, n\u0101u i T\u016Bhoe ai t\u014Dku ng\u0101kau, \u0101, i T\u016Bhoe ai ahau.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EKi \u014Dku pou o te ao haka, Koro Ng\u0101p\u014D k\u014Drua ko Kui P\u012Bmia, n\u0101 k\u014Drua ng\u0101 rangi me ng\u0101 kupu i tito i mana an\u014D ai te k\u014Drero, \u201Cki te w\u0101tea te hinengaro me te kaha rere o te wairua, ka taea ng\u0101 mea katoa\u201D.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EKei ng\u0101 pou o t\u014Dku whare, o Ng\u0101 T\u016Bmanako, Whaea Arapera, Whaea Hinerapa, Nanny June, Whaea Barbara, Ricky, koutou aku titi raukura me aku iti raukura kua riro ki te p\u014D, e muramura tonu ana te ahi n\u0101 koutou i toutou i t\u014D t\u0101tou p\u0101. Anei, kua kaewa mai e m\u0101tou ki konei, ki t\u0113nei Whare i t\u0113nei r\u0101.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EK\u0101ti, ki ng\u0101 pou tokomanawa o Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori, Whaea T\u0101riana k\u014Drua tahi ko Takutaimoana: m\u0101reikura m\u0101rire, ng\u0101kau m\u0101haki. E Kui Tari, n\u0101u a Wh\u0101nau Ora i \u014Dhia ake i te kore ki te ao m\u0101rama. Takutai, e wh\u0101ia e koe ng\u0101 mahi a Rarohenga kia whai pokohiwi pono ai ng\u0101 wh\u0101nau o t\u014D t\u0101ua rohe, o T\u0101maki Makaurau. Ko k\u014Drua ka noho hei iho p\u016Bmanawa ki a au, otir\u0101 ki a m\u0101tou o Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori e apakura tonu nei. Nei ka mihi, nei ka tangi.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EKia whakatepehia ake i konei, he r\u0101rangi maunga, t\u016B tonu, t\u016B tonu; he r\u0101rangi tangata, ngaro noa, ngaro noa. Tau\u0101raitia te p\u014D, t\u012Btoko ki te ao m\u0101rama. E ng\u0101 urup\u0101 o r\u0101tou m\u0101, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EWhakakau ake te kauae kahika o Kiwa, te arikinui Ku\u012Bni Nga wai hono i te po, t\u016B mai r\u0101. T\u016B mai koe i runga i te ahurea tapu o t\u014D p\u0101p\u0101, o t\u014D kuia, o \u014D t\u012Bpuna kua riro ki te p\u014D. T\u016B mai r\u0101 koe hei tapairu m\u014D te reo M\u0101ori. \u0100 t\u0113n\u0101, kia whakatino-rangatiratangatia e au t\u014D t\u0101ua reo ki konei, ki P\u0101remata, \u0101, ki te ao t\u014Drangap\u016B.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EKo te ku\u012Bni M\u0101ori hei whakamarumaru, ko te K\u012Bngitanga hei whakaruruhau m\u014D te mana M\u0101ori motuhake. Rire rire hau, pai m\u0101rire.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EE te ariki hou o T\u016Bwharetoa, Te Rangim\u0101heu, e t\u016B. Kia whitikina iho koe e te ihi o t\u014D p\u0101p\u0101. Te mauri o te iwi, te hana o ng\u0101 waiariki, nau mai r\u0101 koe e te whatu o te whare o Te Heuheu. Rarau.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003ETe \u0100tiawa, Taranaki Wh\u0101nui, Ng\u0101ti Toarangatira, e ng\u0101 reo whakahei n\u014D runga mai i ng\u0101 maunga whakah\u012B o Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara, tat\u016B atu ki Muaupoko ki \u014Ctaki, tae atu ki Rangit\u0101ne ki te Wairarapa, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou e ng\u0101 matamatahu\u0101nga, e ng\u0101 mana whenua o \u0113nei whenua.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EWhakatau mai i taku iti, i taku rahi. Whakatau mai i a m\u0101tou, ng\u0101 waewae tapu. Whakatau mai i taku wh\u0101nau, i taku hapori, t\u0113nei kua tau mai. Mihia \u0101 m\u0101tou mokopuna. Mihia ng\u0101 tamariki o Te K\u014Dhanga Reo me te Kura Kaupapa M\u0101ori. Mihia \u014D r\u0101tou m\u0101tua, \u014D r\u0101tou p\u0101keke. Mihia ng\u0101 toa o te reo M\u0101ori. Tae atu ki ng\u0101 p\u0101 kai ahi me ng\u0101 mana tiketike o T\u0101maki Makaurau. Ehara, mihia te uru kahika o T\u0101maki Makaurau, t\u0113nei kua pae mai nei.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EMihia \u014Dku p\u0101p\u0101 i konei i ng\u0101 tau o mua, hei aha? Hei kauwaka, hei m\u0101ngai m\u014D ng\u0101 iwi M\u0101ori i mua. Mihia te matak\u012Brea o te rangap\u016B tuatahi o Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori kua auraki mai. Anei a T\u0101 P\u0101p\u0101 Pita Sharples me \u0101na apataki e t\u016B tonu nei te whare o Hoani Waititi marae e tau nei, e mihi atu nei. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E\u0100 k\u0101ti, whakatau mai i ahau, i te mema P\u0101remata hou o T\u0101maki Makaurau.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EKo ahau ko Oriini Kaipara, ko te teina o R\u0101winia r\u0101ua ko Te Raina, ko te tuahine o Hakaraia, ko te whakap\u0101kanga a Shirley Te Pou r\u0101ua ko Eruera Kaipara. Ko Gary Grey taku p\u0101p\u0101 whakaangi. He m\u014Dkai ahau n\u0101 H\u014Dri r\u0101ua ko Te Auta Te Pou. He mokopuna hoki ahau n\u0101 W\u012Bkeepa r\u0101ua ko Kaira Te Maioha Kaipara. Ko au te m\u0101m\u0101 o Paetawhiti, o Te Aomihia, o Nikau, o Ng\u0101rongokahira. Ko au hoki te kuikui o Puaroa.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EHe uri ahau n\u014D Hine-p\u016Bkohu-rangi, n\u014D Te Kura-i-monoa, n\u014D Wairaka, n\u014D Hine-te-ariki, n\u014D H\u0101huru. Ko au te wawata o Te \u014Ckahurangi, te t\u016Bmanako o Rangit\u014Dwhare, te kauae o Parehuia. Ko au ko Ng\u0101ti Awa, ko au ko T\u016Bwharetoa, ko T\u016Bhoe, ko Ng\u0101ti Rangitihi, ko Ng\u0101 P\u014Dtiki, ko Te Hap\u016B Oneone.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EE te P\u012Bka, e te Whare, e aku mema hoahaere i t\u0113nei Whare, ka puta i te motu wh\u0101nui, koutou e ng\u0101 maunga whakah\u012B o ng\u0101 t\u012Bpuna kei te p\u014D, anei ahau e mihi atu nei ki a koutou. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou, \u0101, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E[Sir Tumu, where have you gone? The leadership panels of all iwi have thinned. The two hawks from upon Bastion Point are those who have fallen into darkness.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EMy noble leaders, lay and P\u0101p\u0101 Grant Hawke, pass on my noble leaders, rest in peace. Leap onto Taupiri-k\u016Bao, the lady who flourished, my lady, rest in peace. To you, the recently departed, go on the drawing current, the persistent current, the current that will never return again. Pass on, our dearly departed, go. To the pillars of my spiritual hall, return in spirit, return in spirit.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003ETo the pillars of Te Aho Matua, Nanny Tuki, it was you who said, \u201CHold fast to Te Aho Matua, the miraculous pinnacle\u201D. Whaea K\u0101terina Te Heik\u014Dk\u014D, it was your hand that carved Te Aho Matua and its six component parts; it was you who reminded us to seek the unseen.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003ETo the pillar of my M\u0101ori language, H\u014Dri Te Pou, Grandad, my knowledge of the language is due to you. It was you who made my tongue T\u016Bhoe, it was you who made my heart T\u016Bhoe, who made me T\u016Bhoe.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003ETo my pillars of the haka world, Koro Ng\u0101p\u014D and Kui P\u012Bmia, it was the two of you who composed the arrangements and lyrics that confirmed the statement, \u201CIf the mind is clear and the soul is soaring, everything is possible\u201D.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003ETo the pillars of my house, Ng\u0101 T\u016Bmanako, Whaea Arapera, Whaea Hinerapa, Nanny June, Whaea Barbara, Ricky, all of you my treasured plumes and humble affiliates that have gone into the darkness, the fire that you tended in our fortress burns on. Here, we have travelled here to this House today.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EWell, to the central columns of the M\u0101ori Party, Whaea T\u0101riana and Takutaimoana: peaceful majesty, humble hearts. Kui Tari, it was you who brought Wh\u0101nau Ora from nothing into the world of light. Takutai, you pursued the endeavours of Rarohenga so that the families of our region, of Auckland would have a strong shoulder to lean on. You both will remain role models to me, indeed to us, the M\u0101ori Party that continue to grieve. I thank you, and grieve for you.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003ETo conclude here, mountain ranges endure, while humanity passes on. Let the night stand apart, as we move into the world of light. To the living memorials of those who have passed on, greetings and thanks to you all.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EAs the noble jaw of Kiwa comes into view, it is the monarch Queen Nga wai hono i te po, arise. Arise upon the sacred throne of your father, of your grandmother, of your ancestors who have passed into the night. Arise as sovereign for the M\u0101ori language. Indeed, let me ensure the sovereignty of our language here in Parliament, and in the political sphere.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EAs the M\u0101ori queen is shelter, so is the K\u012Bngitanga a sanctuary for M\u0101ori authority. Peace and goodwill to all.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003ETo the new supreme leader of T\u016Bwharetoa, Te Rangim\u0101heu, arise. May you be illuminated by the power of your father. The life force of the people, the radiance of the geothermal features, welcome, the rock of the house of Te Heuheu. Welcome.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003ETe \u0100tiawa, Tarana Wh\u0101nui, Ng\u0101ti Toarangatira, the voices of welcome from upon the proud mountains of Wellington, including Muaupoko in \u014Ctaki, and also Rangit\u0101ne in Wairarapa, greetings to you my relatives, the authorities over these lands.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EWelcome my humble and proud ones. Welcome us, those new to this place. Welcome my family, my community, we who have arrived here. Greet our grandchildren. Greet the children of the K\u014Dhanga Reo and the Kura Kaupapa M\u0101ori. Greet their parents and their elders. Greet the champions of the M\u0101ori language. Including the sentinels and the exalted authority of Auckland. Indeed, greet the leadership group of Auckland that has arrived here.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EGreet my uncles that were here in prior years, as what? As media and representatives for the M\u0101ori people before. Greet the advance guard of the founding group of the M\u0101ori Party who have returned. Here is Sir Pita Sharples and his retinue who maintain the hall of Hoani Waititi marae, who have arrived and greet you. Greetings and thanks to you all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EOh well, welcome me, the new member of Parliament of Auckland.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EI am Oriini Kaipara, younger sister of R\u0101winia and Te Raina, sister of Hakaraia, youngest child of Shirley Te Pou and Eruera Kaipara. Gary Grey is my stepfather. I am a favourite of H\u014Dri and Te Auta Te Pou. I am also a grandchild of W\u012Bkeepa and Kaira Te Maioha Kaipara. I am the mother of Paetawhiti, Te Aomihia, Nikau and Ng\u0101rongokahira. I am also the grandmother of Puaroa.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EI am a descendant of Hine-p\u016Bkohu-rangi, Te Kura-i-minoa, Wairaka, Hine-te-ariki and H\u0101huru. I am the aspiration of Te \u014Ckahurangi, the hope of Rangit\u014Dwhare, and the pride of Parehuia. I am Ng\u0101ti Awa, I am T\u016Bwharetoa, T\u016Bhoe, Ng\u0101ti Rangitihi, Ng\u0101 P\u014Dtiki, and Te Hap\u016B Oneone.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EMr Speaker, and the House, my fellow members of this House, and out to the nation, you, the proud mountains of the ancestors in the night, here I am offering thanks to you. Greetings and thanks to you, and all of us.]  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EI am Oriini Kaipara, member of Parliament for T\u0101maki Makaurau. Greetings, everyone. I\u2019m not going to stand here and tell you about the impacts of colonisation on wh\u0101nau, hap\u016B, iwi, and even on me. That story is well documented. One only has to turn to the Hansard to see in plain black and white how this Government and past Governments have perceived our people. Instead, I will speak of resilience; the resilience of M\u0101ori, the resilience that has carried us through generations of struggle and survival; the resilience that has shaped me into the woman, the mother, the grandmother, and now the member of Parliament who stands here before you today. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003ETe reo M\u0101ori, tikanga, kura kaupapa, kapa haka, the arts\u2014heck, even Matariki. None of it survived by accident. E h\u0113. It all survived because we fought for it, M\u0101ori and non-M\u0101ori alike. We\u2019ve been fighting for a very long time for te reo to survive and thrive. In 1970, Ng\u0101 Tamatoa and Ng\u0101 Kaiwhakap\u016Bmau i te Reo lobbied for the introduction of te reo M\u0101ori into all schools. Two years later, the M\u0101ori language petition, signed by over 30,000 New Zealanders, was carried to the very steps of this Parliament; ordinary people, extraordinary in their vision, stood up to say that the language of our t\u012Bpuna and of this whenua will not die. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EIn 1975, three historic events took place. Dame Whina Cooper and Te R\u014Dp\u016B Matakite led the biggest land march of its time, from the top of the North to those very same steps. The Waitangi Tribunal was established, and I acknowledge the taraipiunara, who are here commemorating their 50th anniversary. The third was Te Wiki o te reo M\u0101ori\u2014it also began that year. Here we are, 50 years later, celebrating, but with eyes wide open to the realities both institutions face right now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EMay I remind everyone in this House and out there that in 1975, just 5 percent of all M\u0101ori schoolchildren could speak and even understand their own mother tongue; 5 percent. Ru\u0101toki stepped up first. They became the first bilingual school in the entire country in 1978. That was also the year of Takaparawh\u0101 Bastion Point. E kore rawa m\u0101tou e wareware. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E[We will never ever forget.]  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EA year later, iwi and hap\u016B gathered near here to plan strategies for the survival of te reo. Te Ataarangi was born. In 1980, Hoani Waititi Marae opened its doors for the very first time, becoming home to many West Aucklanders, including myself and my wh\u0101nau. That same year, the k\u014Dhanga reo movement was born in Ng\u0101ruaw\u0101hia. In 1982, the first k\u014Dhanga reo, Pukeatua, was opened in Wainuiomata. Later, former politician and M\u0101ori broadcaster Derek Fox delivered the very first televised news bulletin entirely in te reo M\u0101ori. Te Karere was born\u2014and so was I\u2014in 1983. Still young! These acts of resilience, they were critical to our existence and our success, then and still now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EWe created more than a movement; we built community. Community is what established the kura kaupapa M\u0101ori movement which is here in this House right now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EIn 1985, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Hoani Waititi opened. A dream once whispered became reality\u2014a place where tamariki could grow as who they were born to be, unapologetically M\u0101ori. Anei ng\u0101 titi raukura o Hoani Waititi marae, anei ng\u0101 raukura o Te Aho Matua, ng\u0101 mokopuna a R\u0101wiri Wright, Te R\u016Bnanga Nui o ng\u0101 Kura Kaupapa M\u0101ori kua tae mai. Anei te \u0101p\u014Dp\u014D, anei te tira hou kua tau.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E[These are the valued affiliates of Hoani Waititi marae, these are the graduates of Te Aho Matua, the grandchildren of R\u0101wiri Wright, Te R\u016Bnanga Nui o ng\u0101 Kura Kaupapa M\u0101ori who have arrived here. This is the future; this is the new crew that has landed.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EThe fight for te reo didn\u2019t end there. That same year, the Waitangi Tribunal heard the te reo M\u0101ori claim Wai 11. It confirmed what we always knew\u2014that te reo M\u0101ori is a taonga guaranteed protection under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This led to the establishment of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo M\u0101ori\u2014the M\u0101ori Language Commission. What followed next was Te M\u0101ngai P\u0101ho, Whakaata M\u0101ori, and many other M\u0101ori language revitalisation efforts that still stand today. T\u0113nei te reo M\u0101ori te toit\u016B tonu nei.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E[This is the M\u0101ori language that continues to endure.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EI honour our pakeke who did not speak M\u0101ori, all of you who know and who carry the ache of disconnection and ensured that my peers and I would never feel it. Just as they stood for me, so I now stand for our tamariki and our mokopuna. Thank you for the sacrifices you made. Thank you for the ridicule you faced and for the courage that you showed in your commitment to a better life for us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EWhen I stand in this House, I do so not as a survivor of colonisation who made it in the P\u0101keh\u0101 system but as the product of M\u0101ori resilience. We are the culmination of dreams, of purpose, of hard work, and of intention. We are here by design. Every single one of us who walks our own reo journey is a beneficiary of the efforts of all those who held and still hold the line for all of us today. We embody everything they stood for, all that they dreamt of, and all that they hoped for. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EI\u2019ve broken barriers, but now I choose to break cycles. I\u2019ve covered stories, and now I choose to change them. I\u2019ve competed at the Olympics of haka and I\u2019ve taken haka to the Olympics. I\u2019ve introduced te reo M\u0101ori into every space I\u2019ve walked in, and I have no intention of stopping now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003ESome say te reo is another act of resistance. For many of us, it is our way of life\u2014it just is. The Aotearoa hou I aspire to is free from racism, from discrimination, from trauma, and from unnecessary suffering. The Aotearoa hou I see is vibing and it\u2019s thriving, growing and going forward, not backwards. \u201CKia whakat\u014Dmuri te haere whakamua\u201D\u2014\u201CI walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed firmly on our past\u201D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EI entered this Whare holding in my hand Te Aho Matua, the values and principles coined by the people who mentored and who shaped who I am today. They\u2019re in this House; many of them are not. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EI also enter on behalf of Takutai Tarsh Kemp, my predecessor, my tuakana. I hold firmly, in her honour and that of her wh\u0101nau, all that she carried and all that she meant, not only for T\u0101maki Makaurau, but for all her people who continue today to grieve for her loss. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EI stand here proudly for T\u0101maki Makaurau. To my own wh\u0101nau, aunties, my uncles, my cousins, my nephews, my nieces, everyone\u2014[Bell rung] I hear you; kei te pai\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224549bc504d8f40a3a42d66422bd476b0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I don\u2019t think you do. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d73b66a0482046638151ef09ddeda35d\u0022\u003EORIINI KAIPARA\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014thank you for being here with me. I know how unnatural this is for all of us, but trust. We\u2019ve got this. I\u2019ve got you, and you\u2019ve got me. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EI wonder what my mum would say if she were here right now. I know she\u2019d be beaming and saying something like, \u201CGo, my baby!\u201D She\u2019s here, I know, and I really do hope to do her proud, and all of our whakapapa proud. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003ETo my h\u0101pai \u014D, my pillars of support, k\u0101ore i \u0101rikarika aku mihi ki a koutou [profuse thanks to you]. Jen, Faye, Rei, Mahanga, Ngira, Rukuwai, Donna, Rahera, Kelz, Maria, Parekura, P\u0101p\u0101 Rangi, our Te Kei o Te Waka wh\u0101nau, tae atu ki a koutou, Kereama m\u0101 [our family from the Stern of the Canoe, and also including you, Kereama and others] in the U.S. of A. right now: thank you for having backs, guys, and for joining me on this journey. We made it. You did this. E kore te puna o mihi e mimiti. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E[The fountain of thanks will never dry up.]  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003ETo the other members of this Whare\u2014[Bell rung]\u2014know this: we will debate, we will challenge each other\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222236cfbcba454926a4efac2447f00fc2\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: This is not on. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f25d7f562c114b8e8205144aecc51bdf\u0022\u003EORIINI KAIPARA\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and we will disagree\u2014and I will wrap it up, everybody. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EI started and, now, I end my kauhau with the pao of the bellbird to remind us\u2014especially now, during spring\u2014that even the smallest of us can achieve greatness. Just like the bellbird dared to ascend the tallest kahikatea, we can, and we will. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EK\u014Drihi, k\u014Drihi, k\u014D  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EIti rearea, teitei kahikatea ka taea \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EK\u014Drihi, k\u014Drihi, k\u014D  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E[Birdsong, birdcall, call  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EThough the bellbird is small, it can conquer a tall white pine  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EBirdsong, birdcall, call]  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003EWaiata\u2014\u201CWhakarongo\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E[Disturbance in the public gallery]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u0022ea1529b8cc4e4a239f4d0e263c272345\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ea1529b8cc4e4a239f4d0e263c272345\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, not that\u2014the guarantee was that that would not be taking place. The House is suspended. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003ESitting suspended from 3.22 p.m. to 3.44 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00222604b88d98c740e7ab13f615d0934f90\u0022\u003ESpeaker\u2019s Rulings\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b8c1a4666d234a5fac160ae9c635b2e1\u0022\u003ESuspension of the House\u2014Disruption in the Gallery\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u002272a938e190484c719e0f1de0485883b7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002272a938e190484c719e0f1de0485883b7\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The House is resumed. This afternoon, following the maiden statement by Oriini Kaipara, I suspended the House because of disruption in the gallery outside of an agreed process that the Business Committee had authorised. The key point in this place is that no one member is more or less elected than anyone else and the time that the House allocates for anyone to speak in here is by agreement, and when we have people coming into the House who decide they\u2019re not going to abide by their agreements, then they put themselves in a contemptuous position.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003EThe behaviour in the gallery was contemptuous, and it\u2019s my intention over the next couple of days to find out whether or not that was by agreement with any party inside this House, because people go on to marae all over the country and respect the protocols. We have a protocol here; it is our tikanga. That tikanga is based, as I said before, on agreement, and for people to decide they\u2019re not going to participate in that process, then they put themselves very firmly in contempt of Parliament. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003EThe House will now continue with its business.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002223e0506e73e2440c81f4fc4d69c26b5d\u0022\u003EStanding Orders\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002293bbd3a4d70541f99346e3b0236578f1\u0022\u003ESessional\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022 data-id=\u0022c9e8eaecf19f4bbebb6bcf316a9189ed\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c9e8eaecf19f4bbebb6bcf316a9189ed\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (Deputy Leader of the House)\u003C/span\u003E: I move, That the House adopt the following sessional order: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EELECTRONIC PETITIONS WITH HIGHLY DISCRIMINATORY CONTENT \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EElectronic petitions with highly discriminatory content \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL4\u0022\u003EThe Clerk may refuse to host an electronic petition on the Parliament website if they are satisfied that the content of the petition is highly discriminatory.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL4\u0022\u003EBefore refusing to host a petition under paragraph (1), the Clerk must\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL5\u0022\u003Etake account of whether the content of the petition is threatening, abusive, or insulting to a group of people by reason of any of the prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Human Rights Act 1993, and\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL5\u0022\u003Econsult the Petitions Committee. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL4\u0022\u003EStanding Order 371 is read accordingly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EFunctions of Petitions Committee \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL4\u0022\u003EThe functions of the Petitions Committee include responding to consultation by the Clerk under Rule 1, or by the Speaker under Standing Order 372(2). \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL4\u0022\u003EStanding Order 378 is read accordingly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EApplication to electronic petitions already hosted on Parliament website \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003ERule 1 applies to electronic petitions already hosted on the Parliament website when this sessional order is adopted. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EExpiry \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EThis sessional order expires 6 months after the date on which it is adopted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EThis sessional order has come from a submission from the Petitions Committee that they made to the Standing Orders Committee regarding petitions with highly discriminatory content, which currently must be uploaded to the Parliament website, even without the requisite number of signatures needed to be presented to the House. There was unanimous agreement on the Standing Orders Committee that this was a matter which should be addressed. A sessional order was drafted so that we can get on with it, and then the proper changes will be made during the usual Standing Orders process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022 data-id=\u002230039b05f0c44a229c410f86eb005ecf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002230039b05f0c44a229c410f86eb005ecf\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did think it\u2019s appropriate to make some comments on this. The difficulty or the problem which is being addressed here is the fact that a petition that is open for signatures is almost automatically placed on the Parliament website. And there have been instances where the petitions that have been put on the Parliament website\u2014which gives it the appearance of being approved in some way by this House\u2014have had racist overtones or misogynistic overtones or something of that nature.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EThis sessional order now gives the Clerk the ability to not post those petitions on the website. In fact, those petitions could still occur on a paper form by doing the rounds in the kind of old-fashioned way. But that doesn\u0027t give it the appearance of this Parliament approving, as in any way legitimate, petitions which are outright offensive.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EThere is a reference in there to the prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Human Rights Act as a guiding light, but not the sole basis for refusing a petition, and this will be in place for six months, I suspect, that it will be seen as a useful innovation, and I hope will become a permanent feature of our Standing Orders, but that\u0027s not for today. But a good addressing of an issue to make sure that the processes of this House, which are open to all New Zealanders, aren\u0027t inappropriately abused.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022 data-id=\u00221ff210365e244fa9956cd65150919b3e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221ff210365e244fa9956cd65150919b3e\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise on behalf of the Greens to support this sessional order. I think this has been a debate that has gone on for a few months in relation to the realities of having a much more accessible Parliament where petitions can be hosted electronically, and, personally, I really support the fact that we have an electronic platform where people can host their petitions. It\u2019s super accessible, it makes incredibly clear to people the instructions they have to follow, and that is amazing. But it then puts the question back to us about the nature of the petitions we\u2019re able to host on that electronic platform. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003EI think the solution that we\u2019re going to trial for the next six months is, as others have said, innovative, and I think it should allow us to explore whether we can continue with it later down the line. When I think about the realities of some petitions that definitely have been highly discriminatory, and that are less about free speech and more about just causing genuine harm, I think this is an important step. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003EThis will not prevent paper petitions of that nature from going out in the community; I don\u2019t think, therefore, that anyone could argue that this is about restricting people\u2019s ability to canvass petitions in their communities. This is simply about what gets hosted on the website and what gets platformed, and, I think that giving the Clerk the ability to refuse to host an electronic petition if they\u2019re satisfied that the content is highly discriminatory, within some pretty tight guidelines, also takes it away from partisan politics. I think that\u2019s also a really important consideration, because I want to make sure that the public is given the certainty that partisan politics will not be coming into play in the six-month trial that we\u2019re about to, hopefully, undergo.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003EOnce again, the Green Party supports this, and we encourage members of our communities who care deeply about issues happening in this country to use these tools that they have at their disposal\u2014in this case, petitions\u2014to canvass their communities and to bring forward important issues. In some cases, this has led to legislative policy changes in Government. Thank you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229bcc3bea3caf45a1aaadf462ec3b1a34\u0022\u003EParliament Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022da893bcacd1f49f29e5fb378e018f114\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022 data-id=\u0022f7a9824d263d4cb38993786ff498d0c0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f7a9824d263d4cb38993786ff498d0c0\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (Deputy Leader of the House)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Leader of the House: I seek leave to present a legislative statement on the Parliament Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022212426253d794eb996cb472bd2ad83a6\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: Leave has been sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ddce844a649b407aa1dbd95193003286\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: I move, That the Parliament Bill be now read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EI welcome the report of the Parliament Bill Committee, which was established with the singular purpose of examining this bill. In the six months of its existence, the committee gave this bill a really good going over. In doing so, the committee consciously pursued a consensus-based approach to what is a significant part of our constitutional framework. All the committee\u2019s recommendations are unanimous, and I thank the committee\u2019s members for their approach and diligent work on the bill under the guidance of the chairperson, the Rt Hon Adrian Rurawhe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EThe bill, essentially, brings together the statutory framework for the operation of Parliament, its privileges and powers, remuneration, and support for members, and the agencies that enable the institution of Parliament to function. It combines the four separate Acts that currently set out these arrangements.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EAside from this consolidation, the bill makes some policy changes to strengthen the independence of Parliament, setting out a funding model for the parliamentary agencies so their appropriations are commended by the House rather than determined by the executive, providing a statutory process for security arrangements in the parliamentary precincts, making the system for funding members\u2019 work-related expenses clearer and more family friendly, and updating and aligning provisions relating to the functions and staffing of the parliamentary agencies.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EThe committee received 62 submissions, and several of them dealt with constitutional matters, as you would expect for a bill of this nature. Some went well beyond the content of the bill, to call for substantive amendments to the Official Information Act 1982, broader reform of the Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993, the establishment of a parliamentary budget office, and an increase in the number of members of Parliament. The committee heard these points but reached the view that even if the committee had the power to recommend amendments along these lines, such major changes would require separate policy development processes, rather than being added to the bill at the select committee stage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EAside from those broader issues, the main focus of the submissions was on the bill\u2019s provisions for parliamentary security. As introduced, these provisions were based on the Court Security Act 1999. The bill gives parliamentary security officers statutory powers of consent, search, denial of entry, temporary seizure of specified items, and temporary detention subject to limitations. These statutory powers could be exercised in the parliamentary precinct, at select committee meetings outside the precinct, and in limited circumstances at the electorate and community offices of MPs. These provisions are intended to ensure Parliament\u2019s safety and security are adequately protected, including a capacity to deal with serious threats to the safety of MPs, staff, and visitors.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EAt the same time, the aim is to uphold Parliament\u2019s current level of openness and accessibility to the public as far as practicable in light of the threat assessment at any given time. A number of submitters were concerned about the introduction of coercive powers that could affect people engaging with Parliament and urged that such powers not be conferred, or that they be exercised with great caution. Some submitters suggested that a better policy approach would be to maintain a permanent police presence at Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EI note the committee\u2019s finding that the current lack of statutory powers to support actions taken by parliamentary security officers could place people in the precinct at risk. The bill provides a clear framework for parliamentary security officers to screen for security issues and respond in the first instance. The police will continue to liaise with the Parliamentary Service, assess the threat environment, and deploy as needed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EWhile recommending that the bill\u2019s provisions relating to parliamentary security should proceed, the committee expressed its strong expectation that the current level of freedom to use and protest lawfully on the Parliament grounds will continue, and I share this view.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EThe committee recommended several amendments to the security provisions. A couple of areas that I would highlight are the strengthening of qualification and training requirements for parliamentary security officers, and new provisions relating to oversight and reporting on the use of security powers. In terms of the qualifications and training of people employed as parliamentary security officers, the committee recommended that they be required to complete an approved training course developed by the Parliamentary Service, in consultation with the Ministry of Justice and Police. Amendments also require an equivalent standard of qualification and training for any person appointed as a parliamentary security officer who is not an employee of the service.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EThe committee heard submissions calling for stronger reporting requirements on the exercise of statutory powers by parliamentary security officers and recommended that the bill be amended to set out reporting requirements to this end. Proposed new clause 190A requires officers to report to the chief executive within three working days when certain coercive powers are used, summarising the circumstances and reasons for their exercise. It applies to the use of powers to detain or handcuff persons and to the use of reasonable force. Under the bill, the chief executive will be responsible for reporting to the Speaker and the Parliamentary Service Commission on the exercise of parliamentary security powers, just as for other operations of the service.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EIn terms of public accountability, new clause 190B requires the annual report of the Parliamentary Service to include information about the exercise of specified powers by parliamentary security officers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EAnother point to note is that under the Ombudsmen Act 1975, an ombudsman can receive complaints about and investigate actions of the Parliamentary Service. That\u2019s already the case. When the bill is passed, it would then apply to the exercise of powers under the bill\u2019s provision relating to parliamentary security.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EThe bill incorporates the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Act 2013, primarily in Part 4 and Schedule 3. That Act provides for remuneration, funding, and services for MPs, and sets out travel services for their family members. The bill largely reproduces the legislative effect of the Act, with some policy changes\u2014for example, the bill sets out guiding principles for the use by members and eligible candidates of authorised funding and services. It also gives greater flexibility for members\u2019 travel services so that a caregiver can accompany a member\u2019s dependent family members to Wellington. Another change is to include a new definition of \u201Cadult dependant\u201D, to cover a family member of a member, who is over 18 but who by reason of a disability is dependent on the member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003ESeveral submitters called for greater disclosure of members\u2019 spending. The committee adopted a proposal from the New Zealand Law Society for the Speaker to have authority to set the disclosure requirements relating to categories of expenses and services that are determined by the Speaker. This would be in addition to the reporting that is already required for specific types of travel and accommodation expenses that members incur.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EPart 8 of the bill amends the Public Finance Act 1989 to establish a model so that the House can determine the funding of the parliamentary agencies similar to that used for deciding the appropriation of the Offices of Parliament. These provisions are intended to enable parliamentary funding to be determined in a way that upholds the House\u2019s right to control its own affairs while also being fiscally responsible. The committee agreed it is constitutionally appropriate for the legislator to determine its funding levels and allocations for itself rather than leaving it to the executive, and did not recommend any amendments to Part 8. In its commentary, the committee recommended that the Standing Orders Committee consider how to reflect this new process in the House\u0027s rules.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EFinally, an important feature of the bill is Part 2, which incorporates the Parliamentary Privileges Act 2014. The bill as introduced did not alter policy settings in this area, but included parliamentary privilege in the bill so that legislation relevant to the operation of Parliament is in one place. The committee received submissions that sought some quite profound alterations to how the law provides for parliamentary privilege. However, in supporting the incorporation of the 2014 Act into the bill, the committee reiterated that no changes were proposed to the substance of parliamentary privilege.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003EAgain I thank all members of the committee for their thoughtful consideration of the bill, and I commend the Parliament Bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022 data-id=\u00223423a812d73d454bb3c16461c90107c2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223423a812d73d454bb3c16461c90107c2\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: Just a procedural issue: that legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website. 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=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022 data-id=\u0022c8fc67e553a7495690e80909bdaaebe3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c8fc67e553a7495690e80909bdaaebe3\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. There\u2019s not a lot of detail I can add after that comprehensive speech by the Minister, which quite accurately went over the main changes and initiatives of this bill, so I will keep my comments relatively general.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EThe first comment I would make is actually about procedure, and what an excellent procedure this was for a bill that is clearly part of our constitutional framework. It was a special select committee, ably chaired by Adrian Rurawhe, and also it was not done at pace. It was not a hurried piece of legislation, but it was very well prepared over a number of years, and it was well formed when it came to the Parliament Bill Committee. Some of it has been improved in that process. That is how constitutional law should be done. Everyone knew that it was coming and what it was going to look like. I would suggest that whenever we look at matters which strike to the constitution of our country, that is the approach that we should take, and, sadly, it hasn\u2019t necessarily been the approach of this Government to date.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EThe access of the public to Parliament and parliamentarians is one of the defining features of our democracy, and we should absolutely hold it dear and treasure it. But we have seen over the few years that risks to MPs have increased, and it is necessary to give powers to security staff, employees of Parliamentary Service and, in some cases, others to address those risks. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EI think it was a very useful process in select committee to go through in some detail the nature of the powers and just a real caution as to what degree and how often they are exercised. Those powers, for example, of a security guard to detain someone or take them out of the gallery if they\u2019re being disruptive or to exclude them from the premises if they\u2019re causing undue harm are entirely appropriate, but we absolutely want to know how and why those powers are exercised. That reporting was an important part of the improvements, along with, I must say, a number of other what could be called tweaks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EA further major part of this is the way in which Parliament is funded. Parliament\u2019s finances, as we would all know, are under strain. This place is absolutely fundamental to trust in our democracy. Some of us in the House will know that the number of submissions being made on bills has increased and the work associated with it has increased as well and the amount of work that Governments are pushing through has increased. What we don\u2019t want is an under-resourced Parliament where the quality of the lawmaking and the quality of the interactions of the public with this place are at risk. If that trust is eroded, then our democracy is waning. We remain a high-trust democracy, and we need to protect that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EThe change in the funding model, which essentially gives this House control over its own funding\u2014in the same way as the Ombudsman is funded, and the like\u2014is absolutely a step in the right direction. We do have a constitutional conundrum in that this House is also dominated by the executive, but I\u2019m hopeful that this change will bring an improvement and that the executive will adhere to the spirit of this change and not seek to use its parliamentary majority to exert an inappropriate influence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EThe only other thing I really wanted to say before I close, and I won\u2019t speak much longer, is that we did have a discussion\u2014perhaps it\u2019s a interesting day to have to mention this discussion\u2014on the role of the Treaty of Waitangi. There was a member who suggested that perhaps we should somewhere in the Parliament Act recognise the Treaty of Waitangi and perhaps tikanga. Now, that didn\u2019t happen, and I can see why. The reason why was actually well articulated by advisers\u2014that is that it is the executive who is bound by the Treaty, not Parliament. The relationship is between the Crown\u2014that is to say, the Ministers of the Crown\u2014and M\u0101ori, rather than between Parliament, the legislature, and M\u0101ori. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EIt wasn\u2019t constitutionally appropriate, but at the same time the select committee report noted that \u201CThere is work being done to develop a te Ao M\u0101ori strategy.\u201D, and I think that that is appropriate. Obviously, fitting tikanga within this House in a way which we all agree about would be a great thing, and so let\u2019s hope we can get there in the not too distant future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EWith that, can I thank my colleagues from around the House for the work on the Parliament Bill in select committee. It\u2019s a significant improvement and it makes what we do here a lot more accessible and understandable, and that\u2019s a good thing. Kia ora. Thank you, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022 data-id=\u0022182b0c54129249f2b84aa55575d40806\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022182b0c54129249f2b84aa55575d40806\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Democracy comes at a price, and it is a price worth paying. That price also includes resourcing our Parliamentary institution, which in and of itself supports us to do our mahi to be effective voices for the communities that we represent. This Parliament Bill, I think, is a step in the right direction when it comes to the changes that we are making, in a cross-party spirit, to mechanisms in which parliamentary services in the Office of the Clerk are funded, for example, and how their budget works. I want to mihi to the work that Parliamentary Service does, that the Office of the Clerk does, to actually uphold our democracy and to enable us to be effective representatives. Without them, we wouldn\u0027t be able to do our mahi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003EIn my personal opinion, what I have observed is that with a growing population, with growing complex issues in our communities, the current mechanisms that are in place to ensure that parliamentary services and the Office of the Clerk are adequately resourced to, for example, ensure that we meet the needs of our communities at the select committee, are just insufficient. I\u0027m really, really stoked that we\u0027ve got to the second reading and that we\u0027re able to progress new processes that will ensure that those funding mechanisms are less in the hands of the executive and more in the hands of the rest of Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003EI want to thank submitters, who canvassed quite a range of issues, including access to information and issues around security and constitutional questions. I want to also thank the Parliament Bill Committee for adequately addressing concerns that the Green Party initially had in relation to the issues around oversight and reporting of the use of the new search, seizure, and detention powers. Those additional mechanisms include the requirement to report the uses of detention, force, and handcuffs to the Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service within three days; the requirement for Parliamentary Service to report on the number of uses of detention, force, handcuffs, seizures, and removal of persons in Parliamentary Service\u2019s annual report; the requirement for an approved training course for security officers, to be consulted on with Police and the Ministry of Justice; the requirement for identity cards held and presented by parliamentary security officers to include name, role, photograph, and unique ID number; and other measures.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003EThose are important not just to give the public certainty that these new powers will be used adequately but also, I think, in my view, to protect the security officers who are there to keep us and the public safe. There will be a greater level of trust from the public when we increase that level of accountability. That in and of itself, I hope, would make those interactions that security has with the public a lot smoother, which is what I would hope we move towards and continue aspiring towards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003EThe bill also continue advances other changes, and, in my view, some of the changes that I think are really important are also around the support that we provide for parliamentarians with adult dependents. That\u0027s really important. I think Parliament should be a place where all types of families should be accommodated, and that no parliamentarians should feel like they have to leave their family behind when they enter into this space. I think that\u0027s also important.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003EThe bill continues to work to address issues around what we do to support families of deceased members. I think that\u0027s also a really important situation. It\u0027s important that we canvassed this at the select committee stage because, at the end of the day, these incidents may be rare, but when they do happen they can have a huge impact on the family of parliamentarians.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003EUltimately\u2014and I won\u2019t to take too long in this speech because, as others have noted, we have reached a really constructive cross-party consensus on how to move forward\u2014I hope that that very same spirit of cross-party consensus gets taken into the new processes that this bill will enable, to ensure that we have a well-functioning, well-resourced democracy, because, at the end of the day, that\u0027s what our constituents deserve. They deserve select committee processes that can accommodate hundreds of thousands of submissions. When that does happen, it\u0027s because we\u0027re pushing through bills that have reached the members of the public, that have garnered interest from the public, and the systems that are in place to ensure that we MPs canvass the views of the public are well-resourced. Then we don\u0027t have to make as many compromises as we have done due to the lack of resourcing in recent times.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003EThe Green Party commends this bill to the House and thanks to the committee for addressing some of the concerns we had at the first reading. We look forward to the bill progressing to the next stages.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022440a125e85954bae9f5d470b7551e4f3\u0022 data-id=\u00222290feb3c57b4e6999be674cd387bbff\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022440a125e85954bae9f5d470b7551e4f3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222290feb3c57b4e6999be674cd387bbff\u0022\u003ECAMERON LUXTON (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I, too, was on the committee that heard this bill, and I would like to just pass my acknowledgments on to the Rt Hon Adrian Rurawhe, who did a very impressive job chairing, assisted by the Hon Scott Simpson in the deputy chair. It was a masterclass in the way to run a committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022440a125e85954bae9f5d470b7551e4f3\u0022\u003EThis bill had many people submitting on deep constitutional issues, and that was an enjoyable experience for a new MP, such as myself, to be a part of. It was an incredibly important piece of work for this Parliament. The security, you guys are doing a great job, and I think we really did get some good wins in there for democracy. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022 data-id=\u0022b286352355474ccb9685c2ee445cdf6e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b286352355474ccb9685c2ee445cdf6e\u0022\u003EANDY FOSTER (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Madam Speaker, thank you. Ka mihi ahau ki te Whare P\u0101remata. We are all privileged to sit here in this House of Parliament. It\u0027s a place of mana, it\u0027s a place with its own tikanga, and it\u0027s a place that needs to be treated with respect. We are put here to represent the people of New Zealand, and I think that is part of what this place owes respect to, because we are here to represent the people of New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003EIt\u0027s also a place of mana. If I look around the walls and look at the names on those walls, where we know that New Zealanders in times past fought, suffered, shed blood, and sometimes died\u2014many times died\u2014for their country and for democracy, it is this place, more than any other place in our country, which represents that democracy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003EIt was a privilege to represent New Zealand First in the Parliament Bill Committee, and it\u0027s a real privilege to finally\u2014because it\u0027s been quite a while that we\u0027ve been waiting to get to the second reading\u2014stand and speak in the second reading. It\u0027s an important bill. It\u0027s a bill about the operation of this House of Parliament. I just want to thank all the parties around this Parliament for what was a very collaborative process. There was a lot of to and fro; we built consensus through that, and I think what that represents is that we all recognise that this is about how the Parliament runs, regardless of who sits where\u2014which parties are here, which parties aren\u0027t here. It\u0027s about how Parliament runs, and we do that as best we possibly can.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003EI think the select committee, under the able chairmanship of the former Speaker, of course, Adrian Rurawhe\u2014thank you\u2014recognise that this is something which is supposed to last for a long time. It\u0027s been worked on under this Government and two previous Governments. It\u0027s not a constitutional bill\u2014people have asked that, a little bit; although there is one constitutional aspect I will touch on\u2014but it is about the practical operation of Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003EWe\u0027ve heard a fair bit about the consolidation of four Acts and putting them all in one place\u2014the modernisation of those Acts. What the bill does is it makes the legislation about Parliament more accessible than it is if you\u0027ve got to go to four different Acts. What it does is it addresses issues, particularly around parliamentary security. Look, I think we should take great pride in this\u2014and we\u0027ve already heard a little bit about it: we\u2019re one of the most open, accessible Parliaments in the world, and also one of the most accessible groups of parliamentarians. That\u0027s something which we should be treasuring and that is not something which we should take for granted. We\u0027ve only got to look at the incidents over the last week or so, particularly around our party leader\u2019s home, and say that that is not something which we can take for granted and is something which we need to treasure and to look after.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003EI want to pick up one thing from the commentary on page three. It says, \u201Cthe bill aims to maintain Parliament\u2019s current level of accessibility as far as is practicable We are proud of the openness of Parliament\u2019s grounds, and the ability of New Zealanders to protest peacefully on the lawn.\u201D That\u0027s an important part of our democracy: the freedom to be able to speak one\u2019s views. I just want to say one thing I was proud of the last Parliament for. After the parliamentary protest, you\u0027ll remember that the then Speaker, Trevor Mallard, said, \u201CLook, I want to go and look at potentially putting a lot greater security around the parliamentary grounds, and potentially make it harder to get in.\u201D As the Mayor of Wellington at the time, I was going, \u201COh, no, don\u0027t do that.\u201D But the Parliament\u2014his parliamentary colleagues\u2014also said, \u201CDon\u0027t do that.\u201D It is really, really important that people are able to access these grounds and this building. That\u0027s very important.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003EBut back to the security issue: not everybody who comes to this place comes in a way which is orderly and helpful. Our security staff are part of the wonderful, welcoming face of this Parliament, along with the education team, the Chamber officers, and the Clerks. They do a fantastic job in being the friendly face of our Parliament, but, sometimes, they need powers when somebody is not behaving the way that they need to do, when they are not showing respect not only to this this Parliament but also to the people that visit this Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003EI can remember, in the Legislative Council Chamber, one elderly lady standing there with a protest sign. Winston Peters was speaking in his roles as both, at that time, the Deputy Prime Minister and also as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. All the dignitaries were there, all the ambassadors were there, and one person, because security couldn\u0027t just say, \u201CHey, we\u0027re going to take you aside, move you away,\u201D actually disrupted that whole operation for quite some period of time. That\u0027s something that our security staff need the ability to be able to say, respectfully: \u201CWe need you to move away so that Parliament and the people who are in this place can get on with doing their jobs.\u201D And, of course, we had the situation just now\u2014I\u0027m not sure whether the parliamentary security\u2019s powers actually help there or don\u0027t help there.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003EBut, anyway, this bill gives some powers for our security team to at times prevent access, to remove objects, to remove people, or, occasionally, to detain people. But, as I think we have already heard\u2014and it gives some necessary immunities. The committee made some amendments because we want to be very, very clear that there is additional training for those staff\u2014because that was something that came through the submissions\u2014and also, if there\u0027s an exercise of any of those powers, particularly issues where force is used or detention is used, the officer involved reports those within three days, and also\u2014second tier\u2014that the Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service reports those in their annual report. Those are really, really important. Those are new clauses 190A and 190B, which were added by the select committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003EThere was also a lot of focus on MPs\u2019 expenses, and we had a number of submitters who of course wanted to get stuck into the details of MPs\u2019 expenses. I don\u0027t think they actually realised that they are published every quarter anyway, and, by crikey, I think we all know that the finance team are assiduous in pursuing every single receipt that we\u0027ve got or haven\u0027t got. I think the people who pay our wages should take some comfort that those expenses are well reported, well scrutinised, and well looked after.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cb40eb85aab340879622563050ab25fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f9b94d7f52e342cdbc17829f62817c00\u0022\u003ETom Rutherford\u003C/span\u003E: Where was this yesterday? We needed this yesterday.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222eefb39a2f3d44d39b68a9cf8bfb2843\u0022\u003EANDY FOSTER\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, look, I\u0027m sorry, Tom. Well, I\u0027m going to come to yesterday, very shortly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cb40eb85aab340879622563050ab25fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ad1817061dc24d44ac36a3e96655adc3\u0022\u003ETom Rutherford\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, make him stop!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226641a0c2c8b84075b1d2c73b8a7e3b31\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Do you want me to change the clock?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229f65bd4d79274583b3fe2b8e5f762194\u0022\u003EANDY FOSTER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, Tom Rutherford clearly does. It also was very, very good to be able to provide for greater support of families of parliamentarians, especially where an MP is a carer for an adult dependent rather than just a child dependent. That\u0027s really, really important.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003EWe had quite a bit of discussion about the Official Information Act (OIA), and, actually, what was reassuring is that while there was a lot of focus on MPs\u2019 expenses, there was also some interest in the agencies of Parliament. The report covers that, saying while they don\u0027t operate under the OIA, they operate under a \u201CProtocol for the release of information from the parliamentary information, communication and security systems\u201D. We considered that, but said that is outside of scope.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003EThere\u0027s one constitutional matter which is in there, in my view, and that is that Parliament is supposed to scrutinise the executive. However, at the moment, the budget for the agencies of Parliament\u2014the Office of the Clerk and Parliamentary Services\u2014is set by the executive, not by Parliament. This legislation changes that and sets up a process so that the Parliament itself says, \u201CThis is the resource we need.\u201D, and recommends that to the Governor-General. What it doesn\u0027t do is say, \u201CParliament, you can sort out the buildings.\u201D, because there\u0027s a lot of expense in those.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003EWe considered the idea of setting up a parliamentary budget office, and there was communication to the Minister of Finance, who is giving that consideration. I think that\u0027s potentially a really exciting proposition, because it means that we, as political parties, can\u0027t just charge off and say, \u201CHey, we\u0027re going to promise the world.\u201D Our voters should know what the world is going to cost. I think that\u0027s really, really important.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003ENow, I do want to touch on something else, one final point. We had some interesting submissions, notably, I remember, from the Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer, and he said we\u0027re all far too busy. He said we should have more MPs, and I actually challenged him on that and said, \u201CWell, don\u0027t you think we could actually get more out of our MPs if we operated more efficiently and our processes were potentially more efficient?\u201D It strikes me, having considered the way in which we operate, particularly in the committee of the whole House at times, that we could be a hell of a lot more efficient in that particular situation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022694c3cef004e40d78a26712dce80070d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef6983128c5546c1ac7431d324ddb381\u0022\u003ESuze Redmayne\u003C/span\u003E: Ha!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c002ae596c4f4dd2b9db1fa8c1c70e1e\u0022\u003EANDY FOSTER\u003C/span\u003E: Suze Redmayne is saying to sit down in this particular case. But if it had been yesterday, it wouldn\u0027t have been \u201CSit down\u201D, it would have been \u201CSpend as much time as you possibly can on your feet to try and take as long as possible.\u201D That is not good use of our time. That\u0027s something which we should reflect on. I thought Sir Geoffrey Palmer raised a good point, and we should consider that. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022 data-id=\u00221118cc85886e480390957bbeab76510c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221118cc85886e480390957bbeab76510c\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The next call is a split call.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e66329e431ea47019b41524c6ef2954a\u0022 data-id=\u0022b140642ede9b44efbaf9fb94fb30aca0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e66329e431ea47019b41524c6ef2954a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b140642ede9b44efbaf9fb94fb30aca0\u0022\u003ECELIA WADE-BROWN (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. It\u2019s really interesting to hear the ways where the often unsung heroes of making democracy work are recognised in this bill, whether it\u2019s people with legislative experience, the wonderful people who when you\u2019ve forgotten your papers come trotting in with them, when you\u2019ve left your phone under the desk, or all of those\u2014and they seem like minor matters, but without that support it would be really difficult for the 100-plus MPs to work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e66329e431ea47019b41524c6ef2954a\u0022\u003EI do think that the role of elected members is a complex one and we are reasonably remunerated, and we have reasonable expenses. I think it would be useful if people realised how transparent those are, and I agree with my colleague Andy Foster on that. We were concerned that there might have been some over-the-top security provisions in this Parliament bill, so originally, we were, as a party, prepared to support it to select committee. There have been a number of amendments that have soothed some of those issues, but I also reflect that the good outcomes and the improvements have come from being able to take the time. I think there\u2019s a number of pieces of legislation that would hugely benefit from a more considered approach. I\u2019m not saying that everything would come out with cross-partisan support, but at least we wouldn\u2019t be almost pretending there\u2019s no disagreement because things go through so fast in a number of instances.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e66329e431ea47019b41524c6ef2954a\u0022\u003EThen perfectly reasonable member\u2019s bills\u2014I was so looking forward to supporting Mr Brewer\u2019s life jackets bill. I\u2019ve been looking forward to it for weeks, but we haven\u2019t done it. So I do think there are some changes to processes, particularly\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a3f13f039cfb40198b0a2b2f5ff7dab6\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Brewer couldn\u2019t possibly disagree with that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e66329e431ea47019b41524c6ef2954a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224739e59969fb4ef8b140046953af9bca\u0022\u003ECELIA WADE-BROWN\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014particularly to do with raising the role of member\u2019s bills. And we are a Parliament as well as having an executive Government, and sometimes we forget the opportunity for people to bring up things that are important but maybe haven\u2019t hit the priorities of their party that day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e66329e431ea47019b41524c6ef2954a\u0022\u003EOur committee services at the moment are under huge pressure, and again, this is one of the issues of ramming through legislation too fast. We end up having to select just a few submissions in some cases, or we have to break into subcommittees where actually all of us on a committee would like to hear more of the submissions. And we curtail our ability to deliberate, especially when select committees are always squeezed into that 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and that hour at lunchtime, and you can barely get a doughnut at Coppers in your breaks. So that\u2019s pretty tough.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e66329e431ea47019b41524c6ef2954a\u0022\u003EI just want to say, though, there are improvements, but one of the things that submitters to select committees have wanted is for the committee staff to be able to get back to them and tell them what happened next. They don\u2019t always expect us to have taken on their issue, or they realise that they are putting in a contrary view, but then they never know when the legislation is coming up, what\u2019s been agreed, has there been an amendment, and so on. Now, at the moment we cannot expect our committee staff to have the time to be able to do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e66329e431ea47019b41524c6ef2954a\u0022\u003ESo I will support this bill on behalf of the Green Party, but unless there is some budget allocated for improvements to parliamentary services and the support of the staff, we will not, as a country, be as well served as we should be.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022 data-id=\u0022794f921e445a4499a328c740584c64fa\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022794f921e445a4499a328c740584c64fa\u0022\u003EHon SCOTT SIMPSON (Minister for ACC):\u003C/span\u003E Well, thank you, Madam Speaker. I\u2019m pleased to speak in this second reading debate on the Parliament Bill. I had the privilege of being the deputy chair of the special select committee that was formed to consider this bill, the Parliament Bill Committee, under the very capable chairmanship of the former Speaker, the Rt Hon Adrian Rurawhe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022\u003ENo matter what we as members of Parliament or as citizens or members of the public might think about our Parliament, we are privileged as New Zealanders to live in a functioning, stable, participatory democracy. Over the years, of the 150 or so years of unbroken, stable political democracy, participatory democracy, in New Zealand, society has changed, attitudes have changed, and so too must this institution of Parliament evolve, change, modify, and reform itself.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022\u003EThe special select committee received 62 submissions from some notable New Zealanders who had given some of the constitutional, weighty matters great thought and great consideration. It was actually a real privilege to sit and listen to those contributions. Ultimately, the recommendations that the committee has made were unanimously agreed by members of Parliament representing every party in this current Parliament. I think that\u2019s a good thing, because this is a Parliament that does need to change, evolve, modernise, and ensure that it stays relevant in functioning\u2014how it\u2019s administered, how it operates, and how it looks after itself.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022\u003EI want to thank everyone who participated in the process, whether it was at the special select committee or as a member of that committee, and also for the collegial, thoughtful, and considered contributions of all members. I, with great pride, commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022 data-id=\u0022841b30ecc64d4aba81d704a5a5d500db\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022841b30ecc64d4aba81d704a5a5d500db\u0022\u003ERt Hon ADRIAN RURAWHE (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e te M\u0101ngai o te Whare, otir\u0101 t\u0113n\u0101 r\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. It was a privilege to chair the Parliament Bill Committee, and I want to acknowledge a few people first of all. To our officials, in particular from the Office of the Clerk and from Parliamentary Service\u2014they provided excellent assistance to the committee. I\u0027ll give you an example. We would have a meeting and discuss certain things. We would, at the end of it, ask the officials for further information about all manner of things within the scope of the bill, and then before the following meeting they would have distributed quite comprehensive further information for us, to go into the next meeting. I identified the value of them being able to do that for us. It was often the case that we would go back to the select committee and there would be only a few or no questions at all, because all of the information about what we had asked the previous time had been answered in those documents.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022\u003EAlso, I want to acknowledge all of those officials that provided that information for us. It certainly made the work of the committee a lot easier, I believe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022\u003EI also want to acknowledge all of the submitters. As the Hon Scott Simpson has said, it was a privilege and pleasure to listen to the well-thought-out contributions of all of those who had made submissions on a bill like the Parliament Bill. It\u0027s not the kind of bill that many people would take an interest in and write down their thoughts about, this particular bill, and so I believe the quality of submissions that we got was excellent and was helpful for the committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022\u003EI won\u0027t go into the full detail of everything that we changed; many of the things have been spoken about already. I just wanted to highlight a couple. Around the funding of Parliament, the couple of things that I wanted to mention about that are, firstly, recognising the importance of the independence of this Parliament and that it should be able to set its own budget for its own functioning; secondly, the infrastructure that needs to happen will need to see some changes to the Standing Orders to establish such a committee and how it will operate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022\u003EWe had some comments around that it wouldn\u0027t be as transparent as the current system. I reject that, and we\u0027ve reported in our report exactly why. It is a very transparent process, what is being proposed\u2014very similar to how Officers of Parliament operate as well\u2014and so it would mean that all parties would be represented on a select committee to decide and to consider budget applications from the Office of the Clerk and from the Parliamentary Service, and would be scrutinised by, basically, all parties in Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022\u003EThere was some discussion around whether the Government\u0027s veto would be appropriate still or not. I\u2019m not sure that that\u0027s fully been resolved and whether a change to the Standing Orders may or may not happen around that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022\u003EIn terms of security, I encourage MPs to actually go and speak to some of our security officers around Parliament, and especially some of the ones that have been around for a little while, and they\u0027ll happily tell you why these changes are necessary. I\u0027ll summarise the changes that we made in increasing reporting and increasing monitoring, because there were concerns that were raised around whether there was enough reporting and monitoring of what those officers will be doing: if they use their new powers, that must be reported to the CEO within three days, and the CEO must report those at least annually.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022\u003EI think as we pass this, hopefully, into law, ready for the next Parliament, and to give time for the training of Parliament security officers to be able to properly implement the new powers that they will have after it\u0027s passed\u2014it\u0027s really important, I think, that we continue our scrutiny and examination through the parliamentary process. I commend this bill. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cb40eb85aab340879622563050ab25fa\u0022 data-id=\u0022c3ed43851a1a4ab094051068b51c9868\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cb40eb85aab340879622563050ab25fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c3ed43851a1a4ab094051068b51c9868\u0022\u003ETOM RUTHERFORD (National\u2014Bay of Plenty):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Just a really short call from me this afternoon, to say this is a really collaborative and proactive approach to the legislation around how this place actually operates and how it works, bringing together four different Acts to enable a modern framework for Parliament to work as best as it possibly can, and the agencies that support this incredible place. Full credit to everybody who has been involved in this process. Therefore, I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022 data-id=\u0022d1eef7dd9c674743ac3bc128784f5f8a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d1eef7dd9c674743ac3bc128784f5f8a\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The next call is a split call.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002201f738f244724e5b8da066dba7a6a526\u0022 data-id=\u00226e44631591f644b6a683c45ad67e70f8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002201f738f244724e5b8da066dba7a6a526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226e44631591f644b6a683c45ad67e70f8\u0022\u003EDr TRACEY McLELLAN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to also add my contribution to the Parliament Bill. Like many others have also noted prior, this bill is important. It\u2019s important that a bill like this has support across the House, because it is constitutional in nature. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002201f738f244724e5b8da066dba7a6a526\u0022\u003EMy colleague Andy Foster is correct to say that it\u2019s not entirely constitutional\u2014there are practical considerations and practical operational enablements within the bill, which is important to note as well\u2014but it\u2019s part of what governs Parliament, so it is important that, across the House, people are on the same wavelength, so to speak, about what we value and about the modernisation that needs to take place to make the operations of this place work for everybody. It\u2019s very easy for us to think of this sometimes as our place of work, or as \u201Cour place\u201D, but it\u2019s the people\u2019s House, and it does need to be accessible and it does need to reflect what people\u2019s expectations are of this institution. It is, therefore, important that it remain accessible and not just accessible in a physical sense, in terms of access, but accessible in understanding and accessible in so far as the appropriate separation of those powers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002201f738f244724e5b8da066dba7a6a526\u0022\u003EAs has been said, the bill does three main things. It takes the parliamentary services out of that contestable process that\u2019s applied to other public sector agencies, and, on the same basis rather, applies to Offices of Parliament, which I think is absolutely the right thing to do. As well as the budgetary concerns that have been raised\u2014because any institution or any agency is only as good as it\u2019s afforded the opportunity to be with appropriate budgets\u2014it\u2019s a symbolic change to make sure that that separation of power between the legislature and the executive is seen to be done, which is important.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002201f738f244724e5b8da066dba7a6a526\u0022\u003EOther people have also made mention today of the utility and the esteem that we hold our parliamentary security staff, as well as all other staff. It is important, given that the nature of the job has changed as time has gone on, that they should have those enhanced powers, which reflect the reality of what it\u2019s like to be the host, the face, and in charge of the security of this important place. Simple things like consented search and denial of entry and temporary seizure of specified items, or even temporary detention, are all within the scope of what we would expect, and they\u2019re certainly the same standards that are applied to the Courts Security Act.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002201f738f244724e5b8da066dba7a6a526\u0022\u003EThe bill also makes some changes to MPs\u2019 work-related expenses, with the aim of trying to create a more transparent and family friendly regime. Is it now perfect? Absolutely not. Are there more things that we could do to enhance that? We should probably hope so over the course of time, but the ones that are being made within this bill are worthy and, therefore, worthy of support.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002201f738f244724e5b8da066dba7a6a526\u0022\u003EWith that said, I do note that Labour has an Amendment Paper lodged for consideration, because, whilst we\u2019ve all acknowledged the collegiality of the special committee that was very ably chaired by the Rt Hon Adrian Rurawhe, I don\u2019t suppose everybody was always unanimously excited about every suggestion that was made. Certainly, Labour has an Amendment Paper lodged for consideration at the committee stage to clarify that parliamentary security does not, amongst all those other powers that we\u2019ve mentioned, have the power, and shouldn\u2019t have the power, to imprison, as was quite shamefully suggested by one member in light of the recent breach of privilege. With that said, we\u2019re happy to commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022694c3cef004e40d78a26712dce80070d\u0022 data-id=\u0022c0f6e7cba2784881822545fac42eb1c1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022694c3cef004e40d78a26712dce80070d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c0f6e7cba2784881822545fac42eb1c1\u0022\u003ESUZE REDMAYNE (National\u2014Rangit\u012Bkei):\u003C/span\u003E A decade in the making, this is a constitutionally important bill. I want to highlight the fact that this bill empowers Parliament\u2019s security team, and I\u2019d like to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the security officers in Parliament, especially Manoj Thattipron, who\u2019s here this afternoon, and also Geno Wharakura, who, I think, has just left. You do an outstanding job. You\u2019re on the job 24/7, taking care of us as MPs, of staff, of visitors, and the parliamentary precinct. This bill recognises your vital role, and it gives you the tools to be able to do your job efficiently and effectively. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226f607d4079164946af0eb589f5753d1b\u0022 data-id=\u0022b473d97b8c6545a2ac4eae25887cc2d0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f607d4079164946af0eb589f5753d1b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b473d97b8c6545a2ac4eae25887cc2d0\u0022\u003EVANUSHI WALTERS (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. One of the things that I noticed was quite novel about the New Zealand Parliament when I came in last term was that, in the months of summer, the parliamentary grounds become almost this lunch destination for people, which I think is absolutely wonderful, along with being able to see our kids and other kids play on the playground, being able to sit so close to select committee submitters. My absolute favourite is seeing our school kids line up and come into the gallery and their local MP give them a little wave. We are an intimate but a loud democracy. We\u2019re small but of special character, in my view, and that\u2019s something very uniquely New Zealand to protect.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f607d4079164946af0eb589f5753d1b\u0022\u003EI do remember being here in the last term when conversations started happening about potentially doing things like putting a plastic barrier up so that there would be something between the public and members of Parliament, and considering what the future grounds would look like. I think it\u2019s a real credit to this place that, within what was a difficult period in New Zealand\u2019s history, we\u2019ve recognised that we\u2019re anchored in this idea of accessibility and being close to people and people feeling like this is their Parliament. It isn\u2019t an easy decision to make to get that balance right, and we\u2019re certainly a standout when you see countries like Ireland, who have got those barriers in place. There have in the past been discussions in other Parliaments, including the UK Parliament, about what potential barriers might be put in place as well. I think this is absolutely the right balance, and I\u2019ll speak more about that in a moment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f607d4079164946af0eb589f5753d1b\u0022\u003EI just also wanted to add my thanks to our security team here in Parliament. As others have mentioned, they aren\u2019t just security; they\u2019re also our greeters. They\u2019re the face of Parliament in so many ways, and they\u2019re problem solvers in so many ways. For years and years, they have operated so graciously, in extremely difficult circumstances at times, and so I just wanted to add my thanks to them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f607d4079164946af0eb589f5753d1b\u0022\u003EIn terms of the changes that are being made, Part 7 of the bill is modelled on the Courts Security Act. Interestingly, this isn\u2019t the first time that those provisions have been stretched into new spaces. In April 2019, there was a decision taken to stretch those rules into a whole host of new tribunals, including the lawyers disciplinary tribunal and other tribunals as well. I think what we\u2019re seeing is a tried and true set of rules. I did look to see if there had been complaints made or anything that was very obvious in the media space in this area, and I really couldn\u2019t find anything, which says to me that the rules are set in a reasonable way. As you read through them, you\u2019ll see that the powers of search, for example, are quite restrained in themselves, in terms of how they\u2019re drafted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f607d4079164946af0eb589f5753d1b\u0022\u003EWe are different from other Parliaments. If you look at Australia, the UK, and Canada, there aren\u2019t specific statutory powers or immunities as we\u2019re writing them in. However, what they have instead is a much higher police presence on their parliamentary grounds, and certainly, if you take the example of the Palace of Westminster, the Metropolitan Police Service there are contracted to play a much larger armed role within the parliamentary grounds. I do think that we\u2019ve taken the right approach in going the way we have. I understand that the police have said that they wouldn\u2019t have capacity to be able to perform that role in Parliament, but I actually think, regardless of the capacity question, we\u2019ve made the right decision in terms of the culture of New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f607d4079164946af0eb589f5753d1b\u0022\u003ESomething people haven\u2019t yet mentioned is that the coverage of these new powers will extend to parliamentary meetings outside of the grounds and will also extend to electorate offices and community offices too. Here I just wanted to recognise the work that a lot of our staff do out in the regions, out in electorate and community offices, and the risks that they will sometimes put themselves in to respond to community need. My team in Upper Harbour last term, at one stage, had what we thought was a bullet go through our electorate office window. It ended up being a projectile\u2014a metal projectile that shattered part of the window\u2014but certainly for the weeks and months after that, I was very concerned about the sense of safety that the staff had. I think, to continue to be able to fulfil that function well and be accessible, I\u2019m delighted that those powers have been extended as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f607d4079164946af0eb589f5753d1b\u0022\u003EI won\u2019t go through the powers in detail, but I did just want to stop a little while on the powers of search. As I mentioned before, I think they\u2019ve been drafted really carefully so as to be cautious to only allow what is necessary. There\u2019s language, for example, in the drafting that says, \u201Cinvolves no physical contact\u201D when they\u2019re using electronic screening devices, or only the \u201Cexternal examination of the person\u2019s clothes\u201D. There\u2019s language that says, \u201Cno more than incidental physical contact with the property being searched\u201D. In the language itself, it\u2019s quite restrained, but then we also have to remember that the common law continues to apply in these circumstances. The courts have also been very clear about limiting and making sure that any powers exercised in search have been reasonable.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f607d4079164946af0eb589f5753d1b\u0022\u003EI now want to talk a little bit about complaint, which I don\u2019t think anyone else has touched on yet as well. When I first heard about the changes to these powers being introduced, my first thought was, \u201CWell, where\u2019s the avenue of complaint? Where would people go if they had an issue with us?\u201D Certainly to the Speaker directly, but there\u2019s a useful case in Police v Beggs, which was a 1999 case where the courts were very clear that the Speaker must also have regard to the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. In effect, the delegations that come to security here are also subject to the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, and if there was a complaint that proceeded down that pathway, certainly those rights would be assessed against the powers exercised and we\u2019d have to determine whether in the circumstances reasonable powers had been exercised.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f607d4079164946af0eb589f5753d1b\u0022\u003ESpeaking to a few legal colleagues about this, some raised issues about the institution that is the Independent Police Conduct Authority and whether it would be useful to expand the powers of an institution like that so that it also covered not only security staff on precinct here but all the other security officers who are using similar powers in the courts and in the tribunals. Perhaps that\u2019s something for us to think about going forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f607d4079164946af0eb589f5753d1b\u0022\u003EMy final point is on going forward, because I think this has been a really useful exercise. I think it should take as long as it has done. I think we should constantly be in the mode of reviewing how Parliament should evolve, much the same way as we do in terms of the Standing Orders. I would put a challenge to our Parliament in regards to an issue that I think we should consider next time around. It is ensuring that our Parliament is accessible for people with disabilities. I had a fantastic youth MP in the last term, Ayolabi Martins, who raised this issue as he navigated Parliament himself. He raised several issues of sometimes not being able to access certain things, sometimes finding it difficult. I think, with 25 percent of our population identifying as having some sort of disability, there\u2019s certainly a need for Parliament to consider whether it\u2019s time for us to have that kind of review in place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f607d4079164946af0eb589f5753d1b\u0022\u003EFinally, I commend the committee for its excellent work and commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022 data-id=\u0022ea1458c92d204526a3158093f43ef1de\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ea1458c92d204526a3158093f43ef1de\u0022\u003ECARL BATES (National\u2014Whanganui):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you for the opportunity to speak on the bill. I wanted to touch on the fact that the bill makes the Parliamentary Library a standard business unit in the Parliamentary Service, and just acknowledge the role that the parliamentary librarians play in supporting us as MPs, particularly with our constituency work\u2014the ability to engage and contact and get feedback that helps us answer constituents\u2019 queries on a daily basis, for those of us who are hard-working constituent MPs like my colleagues on this side of the House. I really just want to acknowledge the work of the Parliamentary Library and the change that this bill brings about for them. Therefore, I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022 data-id=\u00229b6064cc36ad46ca841eb37f9f4fdebf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229b6064cc36ad46ca841eb37f9f4fdebf\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Helen White\u2014this is a split call.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002232632704a2594ee1b96e617d06beae80\u0022 data-id=\u00224c0a03059c524df7ac3960ce1a97f3c1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232632704a2594ee1b96e617d06beae80\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224c0a03059c524df7ac3960ce1a97f3c1\u0022\u003EHELEN WHITE (Labour\u2014Mt Albert):\u003C/span\u003E It is. Thank you. It\u0027s an honour to speak on this particular piece of legislation. I just want to focus on a couple of things. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232632704a2594ee1b96e617d06beae80\u0022\u003EFirst, the very careful rules around parliamentary security. I think that we are living in a bit of a different world. I was very lucky to go on a Speaker\u2019s tour, actually, with several other people in this House, many years ago. When we were looking at other Parliaments, most of them are not as accessible as ours. We don\u0027t have any screens here. We should be proud of how accessible our Parliament is, but we also have a world where people are starting to disconnect from the reality, the humanity, of the people here, and that can only be for the worse. I do remember at one point a banner being dropped down here. I was quite frightened and I think that probably quite a few of us would be. I don\u0027t think it occurred to the people who were dropping the banner that they would scare us. I\u0027m not suggesting that, but I think we\u0027re living in a world where things now happen that mean that the people who are at the front line\u2014those are our security guards\u2014need to be given appropriate powers. But what I like about these powers is they haven\u0027t gone too far. They\u0027re very much in line with the powers that have been given in courts and they\u0027re carefully considered. So I\u0027m fully in favour of those powers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232632704a2594ee1b96e617d06beae80\u0022\u003EI\u0027d also like to talk about the provisions that relate to MPs. One thing I recognised when I first arrived here was that we weren\u0027t treating\u2014in a way, it was very old fashioned what we were doing. We didn\u0027t really treat MPs in the way we were in amending legislation and recognising wh\u0101nau, and I\u0027ve spoken to the Speaker about this myself. Wh\u0101nau, for me, is something much broader. I\u0027m no longer married. I have children who are adult. I have people who are connected with me. Actually, there are a lot of people in that situation, and one of the things we\u0027ve done recently in our history is we\u0027ve really recognised that families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. So one of the things that happens in this legislation is that we recognise that families with disabilities, where people have a child, an adult child, with disability, no longer are in a situation where it\u0027s appropriate to treat that child as if there is no dependency, when, in fact, that is the case.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232632704a2594ee1b96e617d06beae80\u0022\u003ENow, I would argue we could go further. I think that perhaps we should look at some other iterations of this later, things like perhaps a buddy system. In the time I\u0027ve been in Parliament, I\u0027ve never been able to bring somebody down to support me in any way, and I think we should look at some of those relaxations because it\u0027s not a conventional situation for many people. I think it reflects the work we do in other places, and we should have some sort of consistency over that concept of wh\u0101nau.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232632704a2594ee1b96e617d06beae80\u0022\u003EI fully support what my friend Vanushi Walters just said about disability. I think that\u0027s a really key issue where we could show some leadership with a change in the rules. But I am very thrilled to see this legislation and step one on that process and really adopting some extremely good modernisations. So I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022 data-id=\u0022e3aaf2ae440a48599496eb094aa0939f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e3aaf2ae440a48599496eb094aa0939f\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the motion be agreed to. Those of that opinion will say Aye\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221f4d4d1a69734540897318a4ca04d263\u0022\u003EHon members\u003C/span\u003E: Aye.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022992315fdc3f849a5aed35f4dec716eed\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: To the contrary, No.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221acb1852c8054678a453fcb681e8c9ec\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: Party vote called.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022046333e04514495581cf6700a8015c7a\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The Ayes have\u2014oh, sorry, did you vote no? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002246b911e5f0524b2ab5c92dc402273987\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, as a proxy\u2014no. Party vote called.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d7f8c4dbb3dd44c78910554d72f544a6\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: OK. Clerk, please conduct a party vote.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u0022d08ef3a5567545a38eb864d5c7914d1d\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 Parliament Bill be read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) (Customary Marine Title) 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 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\u003ENoes 48\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.\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\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022 data-id=\u00224fc4976dbe6940bbb05b95b1e90013a6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224fc4976dbe6940bbb05b95b1e90013a6\u0022\u003ERt Hon ADRIAN RURAWHE (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Point of order. Madam Speaker, it\u2019s been a while, I could be incorrect, but I understood that if a party has six or more members, another party cannot do a proxy vote for them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022 data-id=\u002228c2cbc928344554a0391f5557723461\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002228c2cbc928344554a0391f5557723461\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you for that reminder. That is correct, so we\u2019ll just take that vote again so that we\u2019re very clear. We\u2019ll disregard the last vote. The question is that the motion be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003EBill read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e4c36e8a751b4999856624ba37166c86\u0022\u003EMarine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) (Customary Marine Title) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022560135ee328244eeb3015b7545af8e35\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000431\u0022\u003EDebate resumed from 8 October.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022 data-id=\u0022106b5dcaf60b4d209ca04368c59015fd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022106b5dcaf60b4d209ca04368c59015fd\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: So, when we were last having debate on this bill, we were up to call 11, which is a Labour Party call.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022 data-id=\u0022922fc6f817d3499f996e4e3f43dba720\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022922fc6f817d3499f996e4e3f43dba720\u0022\u003ERt Hon ADRIAN RURAWHE (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e te M\u0101ngai o te Whare. As I was listening to the debate during an extended sitting this morning, I started thinking about, how did we get to this point? We had some very passionate contributions to this piece of legislation this morning. I remember in 2004, I was working for Tariana Turia at the time and she crossed the floor on the foreshore and seabed Act\u2014well, bill then. So that\u0027s where this issue actually started. It started before that at the Privy Council, when Ng\u0101ti Apa ki te R\u0101 T\u014D took a case to the Privy Council over its rights being breached. We jump forward because that bill, of course, passed into law. Then the formation of Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori came along under the leadership of Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples, and, in an agreement between the National Party and Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori, we come to having the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act\u2014MACA; that\u0027s how we got there today. I say that because I listened carefully and I quite often heard in the debate about the intent of Parliament when this piece of legislation was processed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022\u003EI don\u0027t think we should confuse intent with outcome because they\u0027re two different things. I absolutely 100 percent believe that Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori then, particularly under the leadership of Tariana Turia, who left the Labour Party over this very piece of legislation, wanted less than what we\u0027ve got now\u2014I refuse to believe that. Reducing it again under this amendment is not what her intent would have been.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022\u003ESo I stand in this House today and say don\u0027t let the outcome of what\u0027s happened up to now\u2014that that is not the intent of the Parliament when they passed it. It was a convenience back then for the National Party and it was a way forward for the then M\u0101ori Party. It was also divisive amongst Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori back then. This is the very reason why Hone Harawira actually left Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori. This bill certainly wasn\u0027t his intention, and I say to the House that what we\u0027re doing today adds another layer to what should never have happened in the first place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022af3dbe2f46834fdb82f35f1ca8a7381a\u0022\u003EWhen the Helen Clark Labour Government passed the foreshore and seabed, that shouldn\u0027t have happened. The reaction of the National Party in addressing that, that shouldn\u0027t have happened. And I can tell you that this amendment shouldn\u0027t happen either. I do not recommend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b618b847a57b4afb94b76eaea9e042a5\u0022 data-id=\u002288ed78bbc68944518dd2e5984d776678\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b618b847a57b4afb94b76eaea9e042a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002288ed78bbc68944518dd2e5984d776678\u0022\u003EDr CARLOS CHEUNG (National\u2014Mt Roskill):\u003C/span\u003E This amendment bill restores clarity to the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act, ensuring Parliament\u2019s original intention. Therefore, I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000438\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=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00220bdd696145b14513bba56a059dffa1d1\u0022\u003EBroadcasting (Repeal of Advertising Restrictions) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d40f588289e54a88b4cc4a49e43a9f92\u0022\u003EThird Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022 data-id=\u0022035ff2cbbe344a6dad4cf2612632f16a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022035ff2cbbe344a6dad4cf2612632f16a\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister for Media and Communications):\u003C/span\u003E I present a legislative statement on the Broadcasting (Repeal of Advertising Restrictions) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225ff8712f9b5748e38bf1f20f7af7a1fb\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: I believe you are seeking leave to present that legislative statement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225617647a41ac405c96194220049025bc\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, OK then: I seek leave to present that statement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c34ef52b7abb45aeb2a22909ea68ed93\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: Could you just read out what you\u2019re seeking leave to\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227d18885dac7e4a1abeecd3dfbcf34390\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: I thought I was presenting the legislative statement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227e7723654064613ab9df6838cf4f397\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: No, you\u2019re seeking leave to present a legislative statement. Leave is sought for that course of action. Is there any objection? There is none. That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221ef51713e74a49bda8a7efd9b0448ecb\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: I move, That the Broadcasting (Repeal of Advertising Restrictions) Amendment Bill be now read a third time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003EThis bill is short and simple, but it\u2019s an important change for the media sector and one they have been calling for for a very long time. I\u2019m proud that today, hopefully, depending on the length of the speeches, we\u2019ll be able to pass this bill and get it into law. The bill repeals section 81 of the Broadcasting Act 1989, which restricts broadcast television and radio advertising on Sunday and Anzac Day mornings, and both television and radio advertising on Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003EThe good people of New Zealand might say, \u201CWell, that\u2019s a reasonable thing to do.\u201D The problem is that the world has moved on somewhat, and there are many, many people looking at YouTube, Spotify, Facebook, TikTok\u2014a whole range of other things\u2014where these restrictions don\u2019t apply. Of course, online, all the various ways that people get their entertainment has changed dramatically, so the broadcasters, particularly the New Zealand - owned broadcasters, are at a competitive disadvantage in not having the ability to do something that their competitors can. The current rules deprive local broadcasters of, they think, around $6 million annually in advertising revenue, and, of course, as we all know the pressure that the broader media sector is under, every dollar helps and every dollar counts. That\u2019s why this bill is an important, small but important, way that we can help level the playing field for New Zealand broadcasters to compete in a very difficult environment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003EI want to thank all those who have been involved in the bill, and particularly in the spirit of bipartisanship, I do want to thank the Labour Party and spokesperson Reuben Davidson on this matter for their support for this bill. There\u2019s been a lot of talk this week about polarisation in New Zealand politics and it\u2019s good to see that, on this occasion, we\u2019ve had support across the House for a piece of legislation that will help our broadcast media sector to be more sustainable in the time ahead. On that basis, I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022 data-id=\u0022a471e3cb51a44126bae50bc12d2cf2b1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a471e3cb51a44126bae50bc12d2cf2b1\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the motion be agreed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022 data-id=\u0022c36eeb2a1faf442fa2492fed94c27fd9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c36eeb2a1faf442fa2492fed94c27fd9\u0022\u003EREUBEN DAVIDSON (Labour\u2014Christchurch East):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is a pleasure to be able to rise and to take a call on a bill for broadcasting. But it is also a speech about broken promises, because this is from a Government that came in saying they were going to get things back on track, and from a Minister a year ago\u2014over a year ago\u2014who said he was going to take immediate action for our broadcasting and media sector. And if this is immediate action, I think that was false advertising.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003ENow, we know what this bill does, but I think it\u2019s good to just spell it out again. What this bill does is it says, to a very outdated broadcasted Act, \u201CLinear broadcasters can have the same rights to advertise on Sunday mornings and public holidays as are currently enjoyed by digital platforms and advertisers on those platforms.\u201D It\u2019s a very, very, very simple bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003ESuch a simple bill, after more than a year, from a Minister who promised immediate action. I\u2019ve done this before but I\u2019m going to do it again, because across the time when this 73-word bill has been the only immediate action the Minister has taken, this is what else has been happening. At the beginning of 2024, Warner Bros. proposes to close Newshub. On 7 March 2024, TVNZ announces 68 job cuts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223632aa12733a4faa9578f750b74716b5\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Cheer up!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222afe7337e61f47b694464e9785c6ca5d\u0022\u003EREUBEN DAVIDSON\u003C/span\u003E: On 9 April 2024, Newshub confirms their closure plans, and that is 200 job losses. Now, there\u2019s a chirp from that side of the House saying \u201CCheer up!\u201D My message is: say that to the hundreds of people losing their jobs in the media sector while you progress a 73-word bill that allows advertisements on linear broadcasters on Sunday mornings.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003EOn 24 April, Melissa Lee was sacked as Minister and Paul Goldsmith was appointed Minister of Media and Communications, and this is on 2 July 2024, not 2025\u2014not this year\u2014but 2 July 2024, with the now infamous media release from the Minister committing to taking immediate action to support the media sector. And this 73-word bill is all of the immediate action\u2014that\u2019s it; that\u2019s all that\u2019s been taken.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003EOn 7 November 2024, TVNZ announced a further 50 jobs to be cut. On 13 November 2024, one of the tools in the tool box, the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, was reported to be in limbo all of a sudden, and the next day, on 14 November, New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) announces the closure of 14 regional community newspapers before Christmas, resulting in the loss of 30 more jobs in the broadcasting and media sector in New Zealand. I don\u2019t know if you\u2019re keeping count on the other side of the House; I don\u2019t know if you care. But that is hundreds of people\u2014hundreds of people\u2014who have lost their jobs in the broadcasting and media sector, and this bill is the only immediate action the Minister has taken.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003ENow, the job losses continue. In January 2025\u2014that\u2019s the beginning of this year\u2014NZME proposes a reduction of 40 further roles, and the job losses go on and on and on and the cuts from central government for funding to the sector come through in that Budget, and what else do we see but just this week: The Hui and Te Karere, two very, very important programmes here in New Zealand\u2014vital programmes here in New Zealand\u2014are now faced with the prospect of no longer existing because this Minister, who promised immediate action, has delivered only a 73-word bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003EThe other thing I\u2019ve got here\u2014I like lists; this is a list of dates, and on this list there are 49 dates during which Cabinet met and the Minister, in response to a question about what he took to that Cabinet meeting to help, what he took to those Cabinet meetings for immediate action for our broadcasting and media sector, the answer, for all of these 49 dates, is nothing\u2014nothing taken; nothing offered; no immediate action.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003EHere\u0027s an analogy for you. If you have a business with a limited number of customers and you\u2019re not making enough money and you\u2019re trading six days a week, the solution is not just to open on Sundays, because you just have the same number of customers, but you have to be open more and you have to work harder. That\u2019s essentially the silver bullet solution this Minister has brought here in the repeal of advertising restrictions. It\u2019s a little bit like saying to someone who\u2019s receiving welfare or a benefit that they need budgeting advice. I can tell you that I have met so many constituents who have come into our electorate office because they cannot afford the basic necessities that they need\u2014some of these people are working, some of these people are receiving support, some of these people are receiving a little bit of both, and they\u2019re being told that they need to budget better. And I can tell you, they run some of the best, tightest budgets I\u2019ve ever seen, and they could teach Nicola Willis a thing or two about how to manage a decent budget. That\u2019s what this bill is a little bit like, because it offers so little to the industry. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003ENow, way back in 2024, when Melissa Lee was the Minister and it became evident that there were some real challenges in the industry, Melissa Lee said that she was not a magician. Then she was replaced by Minister Goldsmith. And I know there\u2019s the obvious joke, and I\u2019m not going to make it, about Minister Goldsmith being a clown, because I don\u2019t think that would be fair, because, actually, Minister Goldsmith has been a mime: he\u2019s moved around a whole lot and he\u2019s waved his arms around, but he hasn\u2019t said anything. He hasn\u2019t delivered a single word of help for a broadcasting and media industry that really, really needs it. And this is at a time when other Ministers have had quite a lot to say. Minister Peters, on RNZ, when he didn\u2019t like the tone of questions, said he\u2019d simply turn the tap off, and Minister Seymour put out social media tiles celebrating the cuts to funding for Radio New Zealand, our State broadcaster, in this year\u2019s Budget.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3a00426c1aa4f8a96faa7a3acb844d7\u0022\u003ESimon Court\u003C/span\u003E: They\u2019re losing their audience. Why would you fund losers?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022061d8845c4f245edaefb5b1297c58e85\u0022\u003EREUBEN DAVIDSON\u003C/span\u003E: I think that member ought to check the growth in the digital audience of RNZ, because I think you\u2019ll see astronomical growth in the digital audiences and platforms of RNZ.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cb40eb85aab340879622563050ab25fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228993b26b9c024191a632ea5f4260a1ef\u0022\u003ETom Rutherford\u003C/span\u003E: They are a radio station.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002266fcf71f283d462ba06a9a71dcb53da6\u0022\u003EREUBEN DAVIDSON\u003C/span\u003E: The ignorance from the other side of the House is astounding, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m not going to poke the bear any further, because we\u2019ve actually got the solutions that the Minister needs, and the good news is they\u2019re available for you, Minister: two of them sitting in the biscuit tin, and one of them is on your desk. In the biscuit tin, there is a bill for a stream of levies which ensures that the international streamers that sell us their content and charge New Zealanders to watch it would contribute a percentage of their profit back which could be invested in local content. It\u2019s not quite as simple as your bill, Minister, but I think it\u2019s a great, great bill and an excellent mechanism to ensure a user-pays system, Mr Court\u2014you\u2019d love that; a user-pays system to fund local content.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223fe860d20d814eab9d58aedcd7129e56\u0022\u003ESimon Court\u003C/span\u003E: No, it\u2019s State-sanctioned theft.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b7a8d72591da44ffa54a088513d347fe\u0022\u003EREUBEN DAVIDSON\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve stopped listening.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003EThe other is the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill. Now, that was written, it\u2019s ready to go, and what that does is it makes sure that those international platforms that host our content pay for it. The money in can continue to fund more of it. So that is another bill sitting there ready to go. And I\u2019ll give you a third because I\u2019m feeling generous and I\u2019ve got 45 seconds: the Online Safety Bill is also sitting in the biscuit tin, Minister. It will be simple for you and me to sit down over a cup of tea and get that one out of the tin and under way in this House, to make sure that these platforms and spaces are much safer for all New Zealanders. And that should be a priority for everyone in this House. But instead, we\u2019ve got a 73-word bill. If you typed it out, you could fit it on a postage stamp, and it\u2019s probably worth about the same to the industry, because no one believes it\u2019s worth $6 million; it\u2019s more broken promises from a Government that keeps making things worse. We\u2019re supporting the bill, but, Minister, we are so disappointed for the industry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223bb897ab8d624eca84bc4356dec862f4\u0022 data-id=\u0022bcb1cb39b7cf474fb2cb1c204c059550\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223bb897ab8d624eca84bc4356dec862f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bcb1cb39b7cf474fb2cb1c204c059550\u0022\u003EH\u016AHANA LYNDON (Green):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of the Green Party to speak to this legislation and the Broadcasting (Repeal of Advertising Restrictions) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223bb897ab8d624eca84bc4356dec862f4\u0022\u003EAs we gather today, we actually have to think about how often we live in such a crazy, noisy world and where the sanctity lies when we have Anzac Day, Easter, and Christmas. It is actually having some quiet time with wh\u0101nau. Our viewing might have changed, acknowledging we don\u2019t always watch TV these days, but for those of us with mokopuna or those of us who do care for our elders, we enjoy watching the Q\u002BA. We might watch Marae. We might gather as wh\u0101nau to have breakfast and talk with one another and not have the distraction of advertising from big industry or businesses coming across our TV screens.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223bb897ab8d624eca84bc4356dec862f4\u0022\u003ETo be fair, when we hear about the potential income that could be generated from allowing advertising on Sundays and public holidays, it\u2019s just approximately $6 million. That\u2019s not going to fundamentally fix the shortfalls that we have.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ace818bbe71f419ba35260ae2d925432\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Come on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223bb897ab8d624eca84bc4356dec862f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e59a6b32d058440fb268ed8a2d55aec4\u0022\u003EH\u016AHANA LYNDON\u003C/span\u003E: No, the shortfalls that we have in funding, if we\u2019re being real about fixing the system, have got to be more than a $6 million lifeline, because that $6 million that might be raised isn\u2019t going to fix the shortfalls that we have in TVNZ, fix Whakaata M\u0101ori, or fix Radio New Zealand also. Yes, it is correct: we have heard that there are going to be changes in funding through Te M\u0101ngai P\u0101ho for shows such as Te Karere and also Marae, maybe even The Hui, but this little $6 million that might be generated out of advertising on our Christmas Day, on Anzac Day, on Easter, and our regular Sunday viewing, is not going to fix the fundamentals.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223bb897ab8d624eca84bc4356dec862f4\u0022\u003EThat\u2019s the issue here. We have a system that needs a good review. We need to review and provide a clear direction in terms of where we are heading, a better coordinated, collaborative\u2014and also something that brings together innovation, the online as well as the linear. We\u2019re not having the relevant w\u0101nanga to bring the stakeholders together. In fact, it\u2019s actually dog eat dog right now. We\u2019re competing. We\u2019re in request for proposal mode. We\u2019re going after funding to try to keep our kaimahi engaged. That\u2019s no different across M\u0101ori radio. That\u2019s no different to what\u2019s happening in Te M\u0101ngai P\u0101ho right now. Sustainable funding for public broadcasting is well overdue, and that\u2019s what this bill does not address. This bill does not provide the relevant lifeline, beyond the $6 million, that will fix these fundamental issues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223bb897ab8d624eca84bc4356dec862f4\u0022\u003EI thank those in the community who have said, \u201CActually, why do we have to bring advertising in? Why do we have to do that?\u201D For the $6 million? No. Actually, when we have time like Anzac Day\u2014and I want to highlight Anzac Day as a day of sanctity, of remembering those that fell in the great wars and the beautiful coverage that we see coming out across our screens, both online as well as on TV. To know that we could have advertising on there selling us a burger, that we could have Briscoes popping up on our TV screens, The Warehouse\u2014why would we do that? Why would we clutter our online as well as our TV viewing on a day when we should remember them? Look at this House, remembering all of those, all of these great battles, and then we have Anzac Day. I\u2019m only using Anzac Day because that is a day when we pause as Aotearoa New Zealand. Nothing\u2019s open\u2014none of the shops are open\u2014so why should we allow advertising on such an important day for us in Aotearoa New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223bb897ab8d624eca84bc4356dec862f4\u0022\u003EWe continue, as the Green Party, to say, \u201CWell, actually, this is a bigger issue beyond advertising on public holidays and Sundays. This is actually the need for us to w\u0101nanga a collective solution for proper sustainable funding for public broadcasting.\u201D There could be solutions in the biscuit tin\u2014absolutely. Quality public broadcasting and including our digital media is an important space, whereby we do need to move, we do need to nurture, we do need to increase the workforce development for kaimahi in the sector, and we\u2019re losing too many. But $6 million in revenue ain\u2019t going to fix it. Te R\u014Dp\u016B K\u0101k\u0101riki maintains our ongoing concern and opposition to this legislation. Kia ora t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022 data-id=\u0022eb4c1b3102204e43b2900bfb98c3b0b8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022eb4c1b3102204e43b2900bfb98c3b0b8\u0022\u003ESIMON COURT (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E The ACT Party supports this bill. It\u2019s quite clear that businesses and organisations involved in producing a product and putting it out there on the market need to be able to find all kinds of ways to generate revenue, and selling advertising space to television viewers on linear television is a pretty simple way to do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s important that they do increase their revenue. This is one tool. Apparently, $6 million could be generated in this way. But I also point out that another really good way for linear television broadcasters to increase their revenue is to produce products that people actually want to watch, and so if people watch it and then the advertisers get revenue, maybe that\u2019s another way to fill the gap. I highly recommend that they consider that as well, and I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d92a09db28c44070bbfdcc9f0e6f3cca\u0022 data-id=\u0022b7ff56d159814a61b91b09bc468daf29\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d92a09db28c44070bbfdcc9f0e6f3cca\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b7ff56d159814a61b91b09bc468daf29\u0022\u003EJENNY MARCROFT (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of New Zealand First, noting that we have asked for a conscience vote on this particular piece of legislation, the Broadcasting (Repeal of Advertising Restrictions) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d92a09db28c44070bbfdcc9f0e6f3cca\u0022\u003EOur party has always encouraged policies that enhance respect for national identity and shield traditions from erosion in the quest of profit. It\u2019s important for those members of the House who will be taking a personal vote on this not only to reflect the views, if they hold Christian beliefs and believe that those days when advertising will now be available if the bill is to pass\u2014that they can actually also reflect their constituency, if they have a Christian conservative constituency, and are able to cast a vote on their behalf as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d92a09db28c44070bbfdcc9f0e6f3cca\u0022\u003EMedia entities exist within an ecosystem that\u2019s been disrupted by new media arrivals and they\u2019re enjoying, no doubt, some critical advantages. For one, they don\u2019t rely on paper and pen any more to get their messages across. They don\u2019t even actually employ journalists, artists, photographers, or editors. The legislation that applies to old media does not and cannot apply to big tech situated offshore in Silicon Valley. This is a reality that so far has evaded, not just New Zealand but the entire world, in how to deal and re-engineer ways in which the media landscape can change up its business model. Digital media, the big tech companies, are just as regulated as the whalers and sealers of the 1880s.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d92a09db28c44070bbfdcc9f0e6f3cca\u0022\u003ESociety has, in most parts, moved on from the analogue environment, the paper and pen environment, into our digital environment. This digital paradigm has completely flipped that business model on its head. The advertising has shifted from traditional media into large global platforms, and that has had massive implications for mainstream media. If we look at the last five years of advertising revenue that has been spent on our local media, in 2019 the total industry revenue spent was $2.76 billion of advertising across our media. In 2024, it had increased by 30\u00A0percent, to $3.59 billion. Advertisers are spending more. However, television advertising revenue has gone down by 15\u00A0percent; radio has gone down by just 3\u00A0percent. The digital advertising, and this is the rub, has gone from $1.08 billion, in 2019, to $2.17 billion. Radio has done a really good job of increasing their digital advertising revenue. They have increased it over the last five years by 325\u00A0percent, but television has done a really bad job of it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d92a09db28c44070bbfdcc9f0e6f3cca\u0022\u003EThis broadcasting amendment bill will only increase advertising revenue by $6 million. That\u2019s an assumption that\u2019s been made: $4 million will go to television; $2 million will go to radio. For radio, that\u2019s a 0.73\u00A0percent increase. It\u2019s very small amount. That\u2019s an 0.81\u00A0percent increase\u2014for the $4 million\u2014to television. Now, we believe that this amount of money is not worth changing how we keep those special days sacred; carving out and protecting those days for special religious observance and for Anzac Day to commemorate all of those people who fought in the wars, as outlined by my colleague H\u016Bhana Lyndon.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d92a09db28c44070bbfdcc9f0e6f3cca\u0022\u003EJust a couple of points I\u2019d like to make: Radio Rhema is able to advertise currently as a radio station on a Sunday. They choose not to. If this bill passes, they will not be taking advantage of advertising and will not conduct any advertising or seek any advertising revenue with this repeal. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d92a09db28c44070bbfdcc9f0e6f3cca\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s no doubt the New Zealand media faces many difficulties that have been agonised over in great detail and at great length. Those issues are of a higher order than the discussion of whether or not to deregulate advertising in New Zealand on these few special days. If we relax advertising standards at this point, it will be seen as a further dumbing down of our media space that we still do have control over.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000487\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d92a09db28c44070bbfdcc9f0e6f3cca\u0022\u003ENew Zealand First stands on a conservative platform of keeping the best and avoiding unintended consequences of deregulation. Those boundaries that we draw around our working lives and our very special celebration days are important to all of us, and we\u2019d be the poorer without them. We oppose this bill. This bill overlooks the cultural value of New Zealand\u2019s commercial-free days as roadblocks to revenue and not foundations of our country\u2019s character. We don\u2019t buy into the idea that every moment of broadcast has to be sold. We believe in New Zealand\u2019s secure times of reflection, family and community, and will not be supporting a bill that takes that away. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002209668a073b2d425584a5d45a3077898a\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: Tamatha Paul\u2014five minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022 data-id=\u0022058b541912a74a349e5b1df92e666d27\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022058b541912a74a349e5b1df92e666d27\u0022\u003ETAMATHA PAUL (Green\u2014Wellington Central):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of Te P\u0101ti K\u0101k\u0101riki to speak to this bill. I don\u2019t really watch TV. I don\u2019t know anyone my age that watches TV. I\u2019m going to be honest with you. We can\u2019t escape\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224347595c31af4885b0cf214e10038a31\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: We don\u2019t watch it, either.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220092af6c8fd54ea7898b5732fd56c84b\u0022\u003ETAMATHA PAUL\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, I don\u2019t know of anyone in this room who watches TV any more. Obviously we watch the shows. We can go on TVNZ\u002B and YouTube and stuff like that and watch them all again. I always catch up with the old Q\u002BA interviews on YouTube these days, and because I\u2019m subscribed to YouTube, I don\u2019t get any ads. I didn\u2019t realise the gravity of this issue, but I can see why it means a lot to people because of the significance of the holidays.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003EI might not have TV and I might be living free from ads, in the privileged lot living free from ads, but I can definitely respect that days like Anzac Day and Sundays, for some people, are sacrosanct and that they should be protected from, I guess, needless ads\u2014although I would hope that, on days like Anzac Day and other special days, people wouldn\u2019t be watching TV; that they would be having a good kai and having a laugh and a k\u014Drero with their family rather than watching TV. I guess it\u2019s out of that respect for some of those really important milestone days and days like Sunday, which carry a lot of significance for different people of different faiths. I can respect that, and I can respect the freedom, I guess, to watch TV on those days without having those ads in your face.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003EThere isn\u2019t a whole lot more to add than that. I guess I want to echo the points that people have made: that this change will bring in $6 million of revenue into these broadcasters. However, that is really a drop in the bucket compared to the type of funding that these organisations need. I wanted to reiterate some of the points made around Government cuts to broadcasting, some of which are a $10 million cut to Whakaata M\u0101ori, our national M\u0101ori broadcasting channel; a forecast $18 million worth of cuts to Radio New Zealand, which is quite depressing given that they are also our kind of emergency national radio station, who have to communicate those really important messages to everybody; and the fact that TVNZ\u2019s call for an extra $30 million worth of revenue has been ignored. We all know where that money has been going instead of to our broadcasting channels.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003EIn a time when people are quite suspicious of mainstream media and when people are getting a lot of their information from the internet, it\u2019s probably quite important that we protect national broadcasting channels and platforms as a source of truth for people to get information and to learn things and to know what\u2019s going on in the rest of the country and, indeed, the rest of the world. There are better alternatives, like Reuben Davidson talked about, to look after broadcasting and people\u2019s access to information. Some of those ideas include long-term funding for public, M\u0101ori, Pasifika, and community media, strengthening NZ On Air and the M\u0101ori Television Service, supporting non-commercial spaces for children\u2019s content, and protecting independent journalism and niche audiences. I don\u2019t know what they mean by \u201Cniche audiences\u201D, but it\u2019s clear that better alternatives exist.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003EI\u2019ll leave it at that because there isn\u2019t an awful lot more to say, except that I totally respect the sacredness of particular days for particular people. Twenty percent of New Zealanders subscribe to some form of faith, and I\u2019d assume that many of those include Sundays being protected and days of rest and days of worship as well. We\u2019re keen to honour that and respect that, and that means we will be opposing this bill. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002288978fb9592a4911a8e47eae04d164f3\u0022 data-id=\u0022df8484262da0450495729fe66f9ab5ed\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002288978fb9592a4911a8e47eae04d164f3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022df8484262da0450495729fe66f9ab5ed\u0022\u003EDr VANESSA WEENINK (National\u2014Banks Peninsula):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise for National in support of the Broadcasting (Repeal of Advertising Restrictions) Amendment Bill. I\u2019m sure that, along with myself and Mr Costley, other veterans have far better things to be doing on Anzac Day than watching television. It\u2019s probably one of the busiest days of the year for us.  Therefore, I commend the bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022 data-id=\u0022d232906a31b848cfbd354908637a133e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d232906a31b848cfbd354908637a133e\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora, Mr Speaker. As I listen to the debate and reflect on my life growing up, on Sunday mornings, it was always TV1, and Praise Be was always playing in our house. I actually enjoy\u2014I love\u2014Praise Be. As we ran around, getting ourselves ready for church on a Sunday, Praise Be would always be blasting in the background.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003EBut, Mr Speaker, I have some news for you as well. It gets better, on a Thursday afternoon! I was actually on Praise Be once as well. It\u0027s all coming back to me\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ab32b09663ea48b199aa59e4d88f77e4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f7d112d58fe24b12b0111f4924d76f65\u0022\u003ETim Costley\u003C/span\u003E: Sing us a song.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229a8496915a774eac86af0f9cd5a55064\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: As much as I would love to sing to you this evening, the Standing Orders do quote about offensiveness in this House, and I will be careful. But I actually played in a brass band with the Salvation Army; I actually played the tuba. I digress, but the reason I played the tuba was because it was the biggest instrument you could hide behind, so none of your friends from school would see you behind the tuba. That\u0027s another story. But we do reflect on\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000501\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226b9aabae8d3b4ad4a290fb66760f6dbd\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u0027Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: As long as your digressions are entertaining, the Speaker is fairly lax at this time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000502\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec5810f23b9044db8be56c23742d9b8e\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: We do reflect on the significance, as been said, of religious festivals, holidays. But the reality of this one is, as with most of the New Zealand calendar, which was imported from England, it is the Christian tradition that we always commemorate. I don\u0027t see any broadcasting advertising being taken away for Eid or taken away for Ramadan or those kinds of things. We are in a modern world, and as much as I respect my Sundays, though I don\u0027t particularly watch Praise Be much these days anymore, I think that it is the modern world; therefore, we need to reflect on that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003EI did think long and hard about would I support this or wouldn\u0027t I, and I have come to a place where I do. Because I think it\u0027s actually about fairness. It\u0027s about fairness when YouTube, when Facebook can make millions and billions of dollars and then little old TVNZ is unable to advertise on a Sunday morning. It just seems a bit unfair. I hope that they don\u0027t flaunt this too much and just sort of go hell for leather with everything else, but we all need to consider the changing world.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003EWe reflect on the world, as it changes so rapidly and things evolve, and I think that in broadcasting, it\u0027s changing even faster. We look at what was offensive once upon a time to what\u0027s offensive today. As I was listening, I was thinking, who remembers the \u201Cbugger\u201D ad? Who remembers the Toyota \u201Cbugger\u201D ad? The Broadcasting Standards Authority was involved, and there was huge outrage in 1999 about this little wee dog and others saying the word \u201Cbugger\u201D. I hope my mum\u0027s not listening because she\u2019d be outraged if she heard me saying that word! Anyway, I just think that the world has changed and moved on, and we need to be reflective of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000505\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003ENow, a comment was made by a previous contributor about the fact that if TVNZ just produced better material, then people might watch it. Well, that\u0027s not the point. It\u0027s not the point, because you look at what was just said by Tamatha Paul, and, obviously, we\u0027re very generationally the same because I have a YouTube account; in fact, the only paid subscription I have in my life is YouTube\u2014it\u0027s amazing\u2014so I get to watch Q\u002BA and I get to watch all of those TVNZ shows without ads. It is great\u2014another digression, sorry. But things have changed; things have moved on, so the reality is\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000506\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002218ea660d7eac4c78a8fe0bb7e251d645\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: There you go. Without ads is great. Get rid of the ads. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000507\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002267e0840490ba4e04b1d6e2430120fadc\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah\u2014that\u0027s what I\u0027m saying, that the reality is we need to actually have fairness within all this. That\u0027s what I made clear when I first started, and that\u0027s why I brought it up now: it\u0027s around fairness. But the reality is\u2014to finish off\u2014the out of touch-ness of this Government. My colleague Reuben Davidson made it very clear that, you know, \u201CWe\u0027re wanting to fix everything.\u201D, this Government came in saying, and \u201CWe want to get everything back on track.\u201D This is $6 million; this is small change. It\u0027s significant change, but it\u0027s small change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000508\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003EWe need to be sitting in this House, talking about bigger, more important things than a piece of legislation that just lets you put a bit of advertising on a Sunday morning or on Anzac morning, and I think we need to be reflective of that. We support this bill. I\u0027ve been thoughtful and cautious, and I might go home afterwards and, on YouTube, watch a bit of Praise Be, just to cleanse myself.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022 data-id=\u0022267a2ed784fa45dcb3a6dfc46369dc89\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000509\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022267a2ed784fa45dcb3a6dfc46369dc89\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e506e2c84dcb4ff09db3b94a048770a7\u0022\u003EHon Scott Simpson\u003C/span\u003E: Praise be.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000511\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225a61391c6dad44e7abfb650b18f9022b\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB\u003C/span\u003E: You can follow me on TikTok, Scott Simpson, ad-free. I\u0027m down with the kids. I\u0027ve heard of TVNZ\u002B. My friend Glen Bennett makes many good points, but we need to have a median, neutral approach to regulation. It is pretty much in the dark ages when we are having one set of rules for broadcast television, which I\u0027ve heard referred to as linear television, and in exactly the same programmes provided by exactly the same entity, if you stream them, you\u0027re not subject to those rules. That\u0027s just irrational.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000512\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EBut I do think we need to recognise that broadcasting is in a parlous state. Look, yes, there\u0027s a place for purely commercial programmes that people just love to watch, but we\u0027ve also got to recognise that the Government has a role to play to make sure that our stories are told, and those stories aren\u0027t always commercially successful stories. They can be dramas and comedies or documentaries or even shows like Country Calendar and what have you, but they\u0027re our stories, and what this bill does is give a small amount, not of funding but of an opportunity to get funding, but it\u0027s not enough to plug the gap.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000513\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EWe heard today that funding for some of our M\u0101ori broadcasts like Te Karere is at risk. That\u0027s another example of where there\u0027s a real obligation to give voice\u2014a Treaty obligation to give voice, and funding through advertising goes only a very small part of the way. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EAs Reuben Davidson so clearly phrased it, there\u0027s lots of movement from the Minister for Media and Communications, but no real noise, no decisions, no statements, no effective actions. He\u0027s miming the position of Minister of broadcasting, and frankly he seems to be somewhat stuck. So we really do need some action in broadcasting from this Minister, because this small change allowing advertising on otherwise prohibited days might go some small way, but it\u0027s not really stopping the rot, the decline in broadcasting. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000515\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003EWhen I refer to broadcasting, I think we need to make it clear: broadcasting more generally across all of the platforms that Tamatha Paul watches. We need to be clear that people do need to be able to go and see our stories on YouTube and on TVNZ Ondemand and what have you, because it\u0027s part of our really important cultural heritage to have our stories being told.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000516\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003ESo, look, yes, we\u0027re going to support this bill and quite right to observe that, particularly for religious days, it\u0027s a bit of an anachronism to have the Christian religious day as a preserve when we now live in a very multicultural society where other religious days come and go. While some of us might respect or adhere to them, they\u0027re not considered to be kind of State affairs. Anzac Day\u2014I get it. I won\u0027t be watching telly on Anzac morning; I will be respecting the work and sacrifice of those who have fought for our freedom and for the freedom of others, but I think that is a personal choice, not one that the State should be imposing on. So for those reasons, we\u0027ll support the bill, but really much more needs to be done in the broadcasting space.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ab32b09663ea48b199aa59e4d88f77e4\u0022 data-id=\u00228c2f83d82df542e89534667e9c49d6c3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000517\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ab32b09663ea48b199aa59e4d88f77e4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228c2f83d82df542e89534667e9c49d6c3\u0022\u003ETIM COSTLEY (National\u2014\u014Ctaki):\u003C/span\u003E As technology changes, so does culture, and so does legislation. I commend the bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225322e0a4529b497cbc59faf0515037dd\u0022 data-id=\u0022226745300f994430bdb9b4a0d15f60f6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225322e0a4529b497cbc59faf0515037dd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022226745300f994430bdb9b4a0d15f60f6\u0022\u003ESHANAN HALBERT (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. Yes, we are seeing broadcasting change across the world, globally and here in Aotearoa New Zealand. With that, we do need to shift and change some of the legislation and restrictions to enable the broadcasting industry to be at its best. Sadly, this Government just continues to let New Zealanders down. They set big expectations, and I heard more ideas and contributions in this House today from my relation Jenny Marcroft. I think she could do a better job as the Minister and come up with better ideas in the absence of a Labour-led Government. This bill really is about fairness. It\u2019s about balance. It\u2019s about bringing more revenue into broadcasting to make great content that New Zealanders love. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b618b847a57b4afb94b76eaea9e042a5\u0022 data-id=\u00221d954948a29d412ebd13f834fa93c649\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000519\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b618b847a57b4afb94b76eaea9e042a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221d954948a29d412ebd13f834fa93c649\u0022\u003EDr CARLOS CHEUNG (National\u2014Mt Roskill):\u003C/span\u003E The New Zealand media sector has long called for these changes and this Government is responding. I commend this bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000520\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002223714a1cd61840fdaa10b50b3a2b2285\u0022\u003ECarl Bates\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022 data-id=\u00226ef4da9f5bc9477f90af7692348b6ecd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000521\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226ef4da9f5bc9477f90af7692348b6ecd\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u0027Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, the votes\u2014which call are you taking?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000522\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8d528bba69e4fdc851368b80ddb96ce\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s already taken.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000523\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228bbb89d3fb8d497386faea31087cfa72\u0022\u003ECarl Bates\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022 data-id=\u002255d2a3b792c14b54b2703690c8fe4350\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000524\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002255d2a3b792c14b54b2703690c8fe4350\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: I have determined that the subject of this vote will be treated as a conscience issue. In this case, I know there are members who want a personal vote and I\u2019m prepared to accept one. This is the process that we\u2019re going to follow. I\u2019m going to put the question, I\u2019m going to announce the result. At that stage, any member can ask for a personal vote. The question is that the motion be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u00220f653810c56040caa7be9f4a5ee3e926\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA personal vote was called for on the question, That the motion be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022 data-id=\u0022a831d1e8935b46acababca73e3cc496e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000525\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a831d1e8935b46acababca73e3cc496e\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: The Ayes will cast their vote in the lobby to the right, the Noes will cast their vote in the lobby to the left. Abstentions will be recorded at the Table. All votes and abstentions will be recorded by the Clerk. Proxy votes will be marked as such. Members present in the Chamber or lobbies must cast a vote or abstain, and must not leave before the vote is announced\u2014Standing Order 151(1). Members, the Ayes are 49; the Noes are 22.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022 data-id=\u00227a0256d740da44759db0fa0971802792\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227a0256d740da44759db0fa0971802792\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central):\u003C/span\u003E Point of order, Mr Speaker. I\u2019ve just had occasion to look at the Standing Orders and I\u2019m reading Standing Order 154. Now, Standing Order 154 states\u2014it\u2019s very short\u2014\u201CWhere fewer than 20 members attend the House to vote or abstain on a personal vote, that vote is of no effect.\u201D It appears we have 13 members who attended the House to vote, and it would appear, therefore, that that vote has no effect. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022 data-id=\u0022172a8572baed46abae82287d9067fac8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000527\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022172a8572baed46abae82287d9067fac8\u0022\u003ESIMON COURT (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Speaking to the point of order, Mr Speaker. I understand that the Labour Party is looking for opportunities to kind of undo some of the process that we\u2019re following, but I just want to ask you, Mr Speaker\u2014speaking to the point of order that the Labour member raised, my understanding is that we\u2019re to take members at their word and if they\u2019ve cast proxy votes for other members of their caucus who aren\u2019t here, we take them at their word.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022 data-id=\u0022d57443dc13d54ac384c210ba6b8e82dd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000528\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d57443dc13d54ac384c210ba6b8e82dd\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: Well, for a start, I\u2019d direct the member to Standing Order 152(2) and he may find that he\u2019s actually wrong. It\u2019s quite clear, for those who are present, that \u201C(2) A proxy must include\u2014(a) the name of the member who is giving the authority, (b) the date the authority is given, (c) the period or business for which the authority is valid, (d) the member who is given authority to exercise the proxy, and (e) the signature of the member who is giving the authority.\u201D The chair is not only not satisfied that hasn\u2019t happened, the chair is satisfied that it didn\u2019t happen. So, now, I\u2019ll speak to the Clerk and relate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225459b3c0726d42c1b6d3cc94ec303baa\u0022 data-id=\u00225cfa579abae14516af85c1c0c17a69bf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000529\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225459b3c0726d42c1b6d3cc94ec303baa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225cfa579abae14516af85c1c0c17a69bf\u0022\u003EHon JAMES MEAGER (Minister for Hunting and Fishing):\u003C/span\u003E Speaking to the point of order, if the interpretation of Standing Order 154 is correct, then that would therefore mean that the voice vote is the one that is carried. So the motion is agreed because the Standing Order 154 applies to the personal vote which was called after the vote which was carried on the voices.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022 data-id=\u0022e7a4033cd1ef41768e2dc6a4d7da4b0c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000530\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e7a4033cd1ef41768e2dc6a4d7da4b0c\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u0027Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m advised that\u2019s not correct. At this stage, the debate on the bill is interrupted and is set down for resumption next sitting day. There were less than 20 members present at the time the vote was taken, in contravention of Standing Order 154.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000531\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003EThe House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, and we all leave much better informed than we were when this debate began.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20251009e5a32f39c8c047fda24da73418c2fb95000532\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 6.23 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"