"\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=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000000\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e692b800a4a59fa5332df29b7888f11c\u0022\u003EThursday, 19 February 2026\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EThe Speaker\u003C/span\u003E took the Chair at 2 p.m.\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000002\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002219ad4e3eba0e556dda130fdc8d974abe\u0022\u003EStart of Sitting Day\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002283a2ef13fe802dd80031f123c8bf1460\u0022\u003EKarakia/Prayers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022 data-id=\u0022f038617a361edcaacd28acd752d1cbab\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000004\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f038617a361edcaacd28acd752d1cbab\u0022\u003EGREG O\u0027CONNOR (Assistant Speaker) (14:00)\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 the peace of New Zealand. Amen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00221d87cb7570b9eaf597b6babdf4e8d715\u0022\u003EVisitors\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002271c8b30b781ee18db048df2c95142c88\u0022\u003EPoland\u2014Deputy Prime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u0022b486721cdcaad8f9080bde48057ff036\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b486721cdcaad8f9080bde48057ff036\u0022\u003ESPEAKER (14:01)\u003C/span\u003E: Members, I\u2019m sure that you would wish to welcome His Excellency Krzysztof Gawkowski, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs for the Republic of Poland, and his accompanying delegation, who are present in the gallery.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00221bf842a91a6b34df3abf9b2f538ddc26\u0022\u003ESpeaker\u0027s Rulings\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002250dd9294357a4beb623275156bebbfc4\u0022\u003EMembership of House\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002250dd9294357a4beb623275156bebbfc4\u0022\u003EUse of \u201CAotearoa\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u00228d398699cd7a609f13b4beb512e85e4d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228d398699cd7a609f13b4beb512e85e4d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER (14:01)\u003C/span\u003E: It was yesterday I undertook to review a supplementary question asked by the Rt Hon Winston Peters, relating to question No. 11. I was not able to fully hear the question raised, mainly because of the considerable volume of noise coming from other members in the House. On review, two points stand out. One was raised in a point of order by the Rt Hon Chris Hipkins that all members of this House are equally elected. No one member is more or less elected than any other. All members are equally entitled to participate in the proceedings of the House. Any question of an elected member\u2019s rights and privileges in this House being questioned is highly disorderly. Members who engage in such comments can expect to be ejected from the House. Free speech does not enable gratuitous comment about other members. Such comments are not only disrespectful to the member concerned but also to this House and also disrespectful to the electors and the electoral process that allows members to sit in this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EThe second point is that on 4\u00A0March 2025, I gave this House a ruling on the use of \u201CAotearoa\u201D in describing this country. I drew on past Speakers\u2019 experiences in putting that together. That ruling stands, and I would encourage members unfamiliar with it to become familiar with it. Further questioning of the ruling will also be considered highly disorderly, with the usual consequences. While I add for the benefit of the many who sent me emails in the last 24 hours relating to this matter, I suggest they go and read the online copies of not only \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EStanding Orders\u003C/span\u003E but also \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003ESpeakers\u2019 rulings\u003C/span\u003E. That would then enable them to be in a much better position to offer advice as to how these matters should be dealt with.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022412734777f70c7b290c6c992be7712b9\u0022\u003EDebates\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00223d04aa95cde2140ab83079024e4de229\u0022\u003EAuckland Housing Plan\u2014Ministerial Decision\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c72fcf22a6d84dc2530ee48e856abb5e\u0022\u003EUrgent Debate Declined\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u002220fa2a2dadd693dc23189d9f4a29c0ff\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002220fa2a2dadd693dc23189d9f4a29c0ff\u0022\u003ESPEAKER (14:03)\u003C/span\u003E: I have received an urgent letter from Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick seeking to debate, under Standing Order 399, the ministerial decision on the Auckland Housing Plan. This is a particular case of recent occurrence for which there is ministerial responsibility. The question is whether the matter requires the immediate attention of the House. One relevant factor is whether the matter must come before the House in the form of legislation\u2014Speakers\u2019 ruling 223/5. The Minister, in his press release on the decision, announced that the Government will amend the Resource Management Act to give effect to the legislative process, which will give ample opportunity to scrutinise the issue. For that reason, the application is declined.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002251311edf9186fd6fcf39a1dc0e209bcd\u0022\u003EResignations\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b665449e0d8c15280cca4a5b79a04781\u0022\u003EHon Peeni Henare\u2014New Zealand Labour\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00227caefc734969c5fe42a94dba5710239e\u0022\u003EResignation of Member\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u0022a04db68e623e315f5d2c92dba4ce4598\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a04db68e623e315f5d2c92dba4ce4598\u0022\u003ESPEAKER (14:04)\u003C/span\u003E: Members, I wish to advise the House that I have received a letter from the Hon Peeni Henare, resigning his seat in the House effective 11.59 p.m. on Sunday, 15\u00A0March 2026.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002279c1a0b847d722f4c776cda211b73c63\u0022\u003ESpeaker\u0027s Rulings\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022efc83ca6a8a7a36a9fae979d3026b6ae\u0022\u003EMembership of House\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022 data-id=\u0022beb209935abe01bed53eaa849b0e574a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022beb209935abe01bed53eaa849b0e574a\u0022\u003EHon KIERAN McANULTY (Labour) (14:04)\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, sir. Thank you very much, sir, and thank you for that ruling. It\u2019s clearly considered, and we support that. On two occasions, you mentioned types of behaviour that would be considered highly disorderly, and in the first instance, you said that that could lead to a member being ejected from the House. The concerns raised by the Rt Hon Chris Hipkins yesterday were serious and led to that ruling today. It would be, I feel, a disservice to honouring the rulings that you have given and the rules that already exist in this House for the Rt Hon Winston Peters, at the very least, not to be asked to withdraw and apologise for the comment that led to this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e15ce5bcc42f617a844160b1acea02a9\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the problem is that the moment has passed, and the Standing Orders are quite clear on how that works. Can I say, too, that it might be slightly hard for people to understand, but sitting at this elevated site, sometimes the sound is not all that easy to pick up, particularly if there\u2019s other noise in the House. I have had technicians looking at the prospect of having a different sound arrangement for this particular chair. [\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E] Has someone got something to say about that? I can hear all of that. When the House is quiet, I can hear a lot of things.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a7cdb3e6c9776dd73976acf8144a9e45\u0022\u003EHon KIERAN McANULTY\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, sir. For clarity, we weren\u2019t criticising the fact that you didn\u2019t hear.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aa3a3872764764ba57bf7433a86a5aa1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I realise that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022edd62931c18b20b0a87fad1f1bc1e1c8\u0022\u003EHon KIERAN McANULTY\u003C/span\u003E: However, on 4 August, I believe it was\u2014it was certainly in August last year\u2014you required Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick to withdraw and apologise for comments that were made the day prior. Now, at the time, we expressed concern about that because we felt that in doing so that was setting a precedent. Nevertheless, here we are again in a situation where you are saying that you are unable to require a member to withdraw and apologise for something that happened yesterday. Now, you didn\u2019t hear it, and that\u2019s no problem, but you did commit to this House that you would review it, and, actually, you committed also, in the \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EHansard\u003C/span\u003E, that you would act on that. Failing to require the Rt Hon Winston Peters to withdraw and apologise for something that was quite clearly an offensive comment when you have required that of other members\u2014indeed, other party leaders\u2014runs the risk of you applying different standards to some members than to others, and that in itself, I think, would be undesirable by the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226955725e4202433e4c1ff1773a1431e8\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: It most certainly would, and I\u2019ll avoid that in the future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022 data-id=\u0022dfda542970958d7a963656f06cf68cfb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dfda542970958d7a963656f06cf68cfb\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON (Labour) (14:06)\u003C/span\u003E: Just adding to that, what we heard yesterday was one of the worst things I think we\u2019ve ever heard in the House\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e8027766934a0ead607bb7387e035dc0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019ve heard the member\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab5a46fe3381bde2f18285d746963d36\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: They can laugh on the other side.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fdfff0227f7cd315e1d06dae62d719c9\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just a moment. It is a point of order, and it will be heard in silence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002228de3da492f6c1878bc0d5953deb8bdf\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I\u2019m sad that people find it so funny on the other side, because we\u2019ve received a lot of complaints here with regards to what a senior Minister has said in terms of casting aspersions on another member of the House and questioning that person\u2019s background. If we go down that track, Mr Peters himself perhaps can\u2019t speak, because he\u2019s Scottish; Mr Jones can\u2019t speak, because he\u2019s Dalmatian.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022edcd051a9d0f2197a5cc7d2f293906a8\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, no. You\u2019re not helping things here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226677b7194eeffbe0d8b93083d3870a1d\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker, I take personal offence at what the Minister has said, and I ask that he be asked to withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002280a6e76a6d1c4925b36e7763aa10879e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, but on what basis do you take that offence, and why didn\u2019t you do that yesterday?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002253f20be482a5669aa4d8f85b5517eebd\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you for the question, Mr Speaker. I think yesterday so many of us were in shock at what Mr Peters said. It\u2019s stunning that such a senior Minister can come out with what our leader said was a racist comment yesterday. To come from someone of his stature and mana was a shock for all of us. I\u2019ve had calls overnight. A lot of people are shocked that he would make that allegation against our MP from the Green Party, who was born here and has Cook Islands background and speaks fluent M\u0101ori. I ask that the Minister give an apology\u2014withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022 data-id=\u0022c58fc70306d7d6880f47a192214cc4ed\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c58fc70306d7d6880f47a192214cc4ed\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR (Deputy Prime Minister) (14:08)\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order, if Willie Jackson would like to start retrospectively apologising for racist things he has said, then he should fill his boots.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229340db0d6051493982fc3db81fee975a\u0022 data-id=\u00228c5d13ff9aad31b31be374ac4429cc92\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229340db0d6051493982fc3db81fee975a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228c5d13ff9aad31b31be374ac4429cc92\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Co-Leader\u2014Green) (14:08)\u003C/span\u003E: You said yesterday that you would act after reviewing the actions that occurred in the House yesterday. As the member that is now being referred to by virtue of the standards which you have applied in this House, I ask you to apply the very same consistency that you have applied to me, lest you be accused of double standards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022022f3983e754ee028aad13d8d5dc43a2\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That is borderline trifling with the Chair; I\u2019m not listening to that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002271d8acf3a6f0476999f9d03b4ae70e7d\u0022 data-id=\u0022f66677e77fa457ad7ec32172ac88008d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002271d8acf3a6f0476999f9d03b4ae70e7d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f66677e77fa457ad7ec32172ac88008d\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES (Minister for Resources) (14:09)\u003C/span\u003E: Members on the other side of the House should be invited to write you a letter. These matters pertaining to what happened yesterday have been dealt with. Speakers\u2019 rulings 60/1-6 outline where the parameters are. There is nothing to be gained by continually rehearsing and trying to challenge your ruling. Let\u2019s move on with question time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022 data-id=\u0022e219f62304809b75fc6bb2b53b5aab29\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e219f62304809b75fc6bb2b53b5aab29\u0022\u003EHon KIERAN McANULTY (Labour) (14:09)\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, sir. I\u2019m concerned by the response that you\u2019ve given my colleague the Hon Willie Jackson. In suggesting to him that, if he had concern at the time, he should have raised it\u2014sir, you made it very clear that you would review the \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EHansard\u003C/span\u003E and report back. If he or any other member had stood up and done a point of order and questioned that, you would have, quite rightly, pushed back on that. Now, I\u2019m sorry, but that cannot stand. You can\u2019t, on the one hand, expect us to follow your rulings and then, when we raise legitimate concerns about, arguably, double standards being applied, say, \u201CYou should have done it yesterday.\u201D You can\u2019t have it both ways, sir.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bb09545512897e3455900633f82124a2\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: And you can\u2019t challenge the Chair quite like that, either. If you think about it and look at the \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EHansard\u003C/span\u003E extensively, as I have, you\u2019ll find there was quite a period of time between the point where Mr Hipkins took his point of order, and ultimately I said that I would put the whole matter under review. I have done that, and I have ruled accordingly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022 data-id=\u00225278d0bf7e0a62ec9a532daf4951d9df\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225278d0bf7e0a62ec9a532daf4951d9df\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH (Musterer\u2014Green) (14:10)\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order, just looking at Standing Order 418(b), around deliberately misleading the House, one matter which I don\u2019t believe has been addressed\u2014we have written to you on this matter\u2014is the factually inaccurate statements of my colleague\u2019s place of birth. Unless the former Deputy Prime Minister was deliberately trying to mislead the House, I think a correction should be in order, because there was a factually incorrect statement being made about where he was born. I don\u2019t believe that has been addressed, and I would like your reflections on how you would like to apply those Standing Orders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002204a4e04ce4b44ae072b0b87403f545d3\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, if you are, in fact, making a suggestion that there has been a breach of privilege, which this is a matter that it deals with, there\u2019s a process for doing that and a process for responding to it, and it would be unfortunate if that were to become something that was immediate and in the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022 data-id=\u0022f6fa07cc3811ace2a5f2a3fcc80b671f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f6fa07cc3811ace2a5f2a3fcc80b671f\u0022\u003EHon KIERAN McANULTY (Labour) (14:11)\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, sir. Thank you very much. In response to your response to my last point of order, you indicated that there was quite some time between when the concern was raised and when you committed to reviewing the \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EHansard\u003C/span\u003E. Well, actually, the point of order made by the Rt Hon Chris Hipkins was part-way through the question, and your commitment to review the \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EHansard\u003C/span\u003E was immediately in response to that point of order. For you to now suggest that it would have been appropriate for a member to then come and ask you to do something after you had committed to reviewing the \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EHansard\u003C/span\u003E does not stack up. The fact of the matter is, sir\u2014and you\u2019ve, basically, essentially, suggested that we are trifling with you\u2014if you were to kick myself or any other member out of the House now, it would still be for a lesser offence than what you\u2019re refusing to ask Winston Peters to apologise for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ed4edb59911612e6b17835e8835d3146\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s your judgment. I simply made the point that the Hon Willie Jackson, in his offering to the House today, said that he was, I think he said, \u201Cdeeply, personally offended.\u201D I suggested that if that was how he felt at the time, he should have mentioned it. It\u2019s not unreasonable for me to do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022 data-id=\u0022e040dc20a5691532080689760186fe06\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e040dc20a5691532080689760186fe06\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON (Labour) (14:13)\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker, I\u2019m still personally offended by the statements of the Rt Hon Winston Peters, and I put to you now that the Minister should withdraw and apologise for his terrible statement yesterday.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227d50cd95205fd5df933ede0829f03db3\u0022\u003EHon David Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Sit down.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002258446a517c298410772c931f99bfe485\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: You sit down, Seymour.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c7578ad97f3e2b34811a3f5929f5aa80\u0022\u003EHon David Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: I am.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022277dc6477d5c24086b44a3e7a045037f\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker, seriously, I am personally offended. We\u2019ve had the most senior person in this House, who came out with something absolutely outrageous yesterday and has been condemned widely for that\u2014surely, he should stand and withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a89434e1e705b296b50666c6074b98e3\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, that would be a decision that he can make. I\u2019m not ruling that way. I have ruled on this matter. Continuing to try and debate it is trifling with the Chair and is, in itself, disorderly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224eeb694c55ab4633a7c9a1c69024072a\u0022 data-id=\u00225de047556017409e83d245aca069182a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224eeb694c55ab4633a7c9a1c69024072a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225de047556017409e83d245aca069182a\u0022\u003EDEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader\u2014Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori) (14:13)\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b77fbbb8eb967eaea9b5052364365bd1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: A new point of order?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224eeb694c55ab4633a7c9a1c69024072a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223e9b67bba4fd6d6f9b5094a7649c25cc\u0022\u003EDEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER\u003C/span\u003E: It is. Not to trifle with the Speaker, can you clarify, please, that the decision is that, if a member commits or has racist comments or misleads the House, there are no consequences? Is that what has been decided?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221efa7dc07ab83e7ade514ee224d78c02\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, that is not what I\u2019ve said, and I\u2019d encourage the member to read the ruling when time permits.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022 data-id=\u002230f514a82a9ac7c427fefaab36605727\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002230f514a82a9ac7c427fefaab36605727\u0022\u003EHon KIERAN McANULTY (Labour) (14:14)\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, sir. Thank you, and I thank you for your consideration of this matter. Earlier, in one of the earlier points of order, you agreed with my point and said that you would look to apply that moving forward. If it is your intention to ensure that these standards are kept, moving forward, why can\u2019t they be kept now?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b1525e6c8a072ced67ee00e2178404e1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m sorry, I\u2019m not sure what you\u2019re saying. What I have made clear is that I did not hear the comment at the time. I\u2019ve reviewed the \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EHansard\u003C/span\u003E. I\u2019ve found in a way that has led to a ruling. I have ruled, and that is the end of the matter.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022 data-id=\u0022503e0df0734bbd4429b014d970ede102\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022503e0df0734bbd4429b014d970ede102\u0022\u003EHon KIERAN McANULTY (Labour) (14:14)\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. On the basis of you saying that you didn\u2019t quite understand my point, I\u2019ll try to be more clear. Earlier, I made the point that you have indicated in your ruling\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002238e10c77c4e7a00cbe40775018839096\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Hang on a minute. If you are asking why I\u2019m not retrospectively doing something here, I have answered that. I have put it in the ruling. Members may wish to shake their heads, but that\u2019s somewhat perfunctory. I have ruled. We are moving on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002205684d731995dc40413275a1aa85bbf8\u0022\u003EBusiness of the House\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b80bd86401f21795b6a62a31d180aa90\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022 data-id=\u00227e193c1efe9c10ab9797a722bca4f6a6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227e193c1efe9c10ab9797a722bca4f6a6\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (Deputy Leader of the House) (14:15)\u003C/span\u003E: Today, the House will adjourn until Tuesday, 3 March. That week, the House will progress the Social Security (Accident Compensation and Calculation of Weekly Income) Amendment Bill, the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill, and the Public Finance Amendment Bill. On Wednesday, there will be a special debate on the National Infrastructure Plan, and the Hon Peeni Henare will make his valedictory statement. The hours of Wednesday will be extended into Thursday morning for Government business.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d5e903e74b889a8d41c6ec64d74135b1\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Deputy Leader of the House for that comment. Will the move-on orders set to be announced on Sunday be passed through under urgency next sitting week, or the week after?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224d4452297b12def46208db59cd7bcd12\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve laid out the business before the House in the next week, and I know the member is excited always about legislation we have before Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b344070e7c1b5efdb51d552c892295b2\u0022\u003EPresentation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e3308ce6041a49f4b1b80d40d179aa0b\u0022\u003EPapers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u002243140106ec3ac11a01b48e998df30d6b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002243140106ec3ac11a01b48e998df30d6b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER (14:16)\u003C/span\u003E: No petitions have been delivered to the Clerk for presentation. Ministers have delivered two papers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022627aa169a89da1b68e5ad64379dc535a\u0022\u003ECLERK (14:16): \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItemSL1\u0022\u003EReserve Bank of New Zealand Monetary Policy Statement, February 2026\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItemSL1\u0022\u003EDepartment of Prime Minister and Cabinet Strategic Intentions 2025/26 to 2029/30.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f21302278f75934f0d25297d6f834a4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Those papers are published under the authority of the House. No select committee reports have been delivered. No bills have been introduced.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c7d7b66ae3095d241d771faadaf7abe2\u0022\u003EOral Questions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a98a5278f15b498d191a15ad3ee73f34\u0022\u003EPacific Peoples\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022fa18d295412872379607cb851a9bb055\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 1\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022083a816abbb847f0a99aff178b1bbba2\u0022 data-id=\u00223405ee804a1925b94470c1efb7d87036\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022083a816abbb847f0a99aff178b1bbba2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223405ee804a1925b94470c1efb7d87036\u0022\u003EHon CARMEL SEPULONI (Deputy Leader\u2014Labour) (14:16)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for Pacific Peoples\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with Christopher Luxon\u2019s statement about Pasifika, \u201CWe\u2019re gonna make sure we deliver for them\u201D; if so, why?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022 data-id=\u00224396e6467ded299adcd1199facec296e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224396e6467ded299adcd1199facec296e\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL (Acting Minister for Pacific Peoples) (14:17)\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, the Prime Minister\u2019s absolutely right that we must deliver for Pacific peoples. We know Pacific unemployment is unacceptably high. The Government is working incredibly hard to fix the basics, rebuild the economy, and improve the situation for all New Zealanders. The Toloa Scholarships programme will see hundreds of secondary students supported through strong education to employment pathways in high-growth industries and skilled careers. The Pacific Business Trust has created hundreds of new jobs. Tupu Aotearoa is transitioning to the Ministry of Social Development to provide better, more streamlined support and access. Alo Vaka has provided targeted support to over 1,200 individuals and supported more than 300 individuals into better employment. This Government invested $35.9 million into Pacific housing projects. The Our Whare Our Fale initiative provides for up to 300 homes through an investment of $114.6 million across three years. The cost of living crisis and inflation hits our most vulnerable communities the hardest. Clearly, there is more work to be done, but we should not forget that the Government that left us inflation and a struggling economy is the same Government that was going to end child poverty.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8e6d44cf33ecd8f4ea8293a06bcb808\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, that\u2019s enough.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022083a816abbb847f0a99aff178b1bbba2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d529730c581865670c8829bb6d2113c0\u0022\u003EHon Carmel Sepuloni\u003C/span\u003E: Did that promise to deliver for Pasifika include delivering a Pasifika unemployment rate of 12.3 percent\u2014more than double what it was when he came into office?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c5259ceb3e1fbdb5b7c6b2ae439bd448\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the Government has several specific initiatives that support Pacific young people to pursue qualifications and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. For example, the Toloa Scholarships programme will see hundreds of secondary students supported through strong education to employment pathways in high-growth industries and skilled careers, where Pacific representation has historically been low.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022083a816abbb847f0a99aff178b1bbba2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ae853627171c284a066f867ca994224d\u0022\u003EHon Carmel Sepuloni\u003C/span\u003E: Did that promise to deliver for Pasifika include delivering a Pasifika unemployment rate more than twice that of the general unemployment rate?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002277278abf6d78bc1d4e969a191892c1ff\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Through the Pacific Business Trust, the Government is actively supporting job creation by enabling the growth and sustainability of Pacific-owned businesses and enterprises. In recent years, the Pacific Business Trust model has created hundreds of new jobs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022083a816abbb847f0a99aff178b1bbba2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a8304e0fc6a9a56b39077c1a44fde115\u0022\u003EHon Carmel Sepuloni\u003C/span\u003E: Did that promise to deliver for Pasifika include an additional 13,000 Pasifika people unemployed on his watch?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022797a3b1e6a6f867300d27ef6955e10a9\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: I want to acknowledge the hard work that the member did in the previous Government in terms of trying to deal with both Pasifika poverty and unemployment, but I\u2019d point out to her that both of those rose under the previous Government. We inherited an economy that was in a serious slump. We\u2019re working hard to make sure that we deal with those issues. We recognise that they\u2019re important, that they are serious, and we\u2019re taking it seriously.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2cd390e05f528a9bd247db4d4473723\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: In the Treasury forecast for the outgoing years of Budget 2023, are those not the exact figures that the Treasury forecast?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022083a816abbb847f0a99aff178b1bbba2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b7b8d6f7ed7ff5af1474de3940d12f61\u0022\u003EHon Carmel Sepuloni\u003C/span\u003E: No, they\u2019re not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022de4917e5d6f0ac97bd2cf64ef770fb5d\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, they are.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e462c9bcccf7b6db979fbbe06d9ac640\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019d have to check on the numbers. What I understand is that the previous Government\u2019s unemployment forecasts had us above where we currently are. So we are making good progress on unemployment, but we know there\u2019s a lot more work to do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022083a816abbb847f0a99aff178b1bbba2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ee4268f324155735b6ba14419508fca0\u0022\u003EHon Carmel Sepuloni\u003C/span\u003E: Better go and check that. Did that promise to deliver for Pasifika include delivering for the one in four Pasifika youth that are now unemployed because of his Government\u2019s decisions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223bd5a03d8f1266896a77f0eb03505998\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Well, this Government\u2019s decisions are purely based on recovering an economy that was handed to us in a terrible state and slump. It was awful. We have been working hard and are very focused, as a Government, to create the economic conditions so that we can start to help not just our Pasifika youth but all youth in New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022083a816abbb847f0a99aff178b1bbba2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b92533a7d337ff7cb320ac48574abf7d\u0022\u003EHon Carmel Sepuloni\u003C/span\u003E: How can Pasifika people trust that he has their back when all his Government has delivered them is the rising cost of living, fewer jobs, and the worst Pasifika unemployment rate in more than a decade?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223835e240785983c66e47704c38b8308a\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019ve outlined all the initiatives this Government has currently undertaken in terms of having to deal with what is a really serious issue that we acknowledge, and that is Pasifika unemployment. All I\u2019d say is that this Government doesn\u2019t just care about our Pasifika youth; we care about all of our youth. The reality of it is\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022083a816abbb847f0a99aff178b1bbba2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222e8411175b9839bfd8abda4b3be4a5e7\u0022\u003EHon Carmel Sepuloni\u003C/span\u003E: What?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fd9422623abb2ac13779dad3d879ddd3\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the member might laugh\u2014the member might think this is funny, but this is a really serious matter.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022083a816abbb847f0a99aff178b1bbba2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222e763445a685ff7f8c1eacae56007940\u0022\u003EHon Carmel Sepuloni\u003C/span\u003E: No\u2014thinks the Minister\u2019s a joke.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227014259ad2293aa2db0e37d54b230436\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, she thinks the Minister is a joke. Well, I\u2019ll tell you what the joke is. The joke is that we had a previous Government that stated that they wanted to get rid of child poverty and, instead, it became worse, whilst at the same time throwing billions of dollars at it with nothing to show. As an incoming Government, we now have had to clean that mess up so that we can start looking after our young people and we can give them a future to look forward to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022278b2ea875459d9a07f7f628438079f9\u0022\u003EFinance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00229768f4a0ee300577525b637d55b36aeb\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 2\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022 data-id=\u0022b8f73064c0dda81d1f400faeaeab14a0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b8f73064c0dda81d1f400faeaeab14a0\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green\u2014Rongotai) (14:22)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Finance\u003C/span\u003E: Does she stand by her statement, \u201CAs Finance Minister, I take responsibility for managing our Government\u2019s books ... I am the Ministerial colleague who takes pride in scrutinising the dollars, in reading through the business cases, and having the courage to say \u2018no\u2019 when proposals don\u2019t stack up\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022 data-id=\u0022631f6a2dc0586cdc8cf56e5cead536e4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022631f6a2dc0586cdc8cf56e5cead536e4\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance) (14:23)\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, and I note that my full statement went on to say that I also take pride in \u201Csaying \u2018yes\u2019 to innovations and partnerships that enhance the financial discipline and reliable delivery of vital public infrastructure.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e47f9799992445520063008223bfd8f3\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: Will she be re-evaluating her Government\u2019s infrastructure priorities, especially the roads of national significance (RoNS), given that the 17 roads the National Party campaigned on, estimated to cost $17 billion, are now understood to cost $56 billion\u2014that\u2019s $56,000,000,000\u2014more than a 300 percent increase on what the Government thought they would be?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a97fa981cc4b8bdbbfef8740fa3a91ad\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, as the member should know, as a former Associate Minister of Transport, the RoNS projects have gone through the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) investment case process, and they have been considered and approved by the board. That process is rigorous, and each investment case includes a high-level assessment of potential alternate funding and financing opportunities. All roads of national significance projects have demonstrated they are value for money in the context of the problems they are trying to solve. NZTA has followed the latest Treasury guidance on calculating the benefit-cost ratios (BCRs) of all of the roads of national significance projects, and I am happy to confirm for the member that all roads of national significance projects have positive benefit-cost ratios.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224faedf9ecb18b083a0075d9545c43b62\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: Had she seen the full business case for a second Mount Victoria tunnel before campaigning for it and committing to it as a priority project?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002280d3511c605a95ef33fbbc843e4decc5\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Again, as the member should know, as a former Associate Minister of Transport, the investment case process is governed by the New Zealand Transport Agency board. When I was campaigning for that, I knew that, and I knew that they would take it through a rigorous process, which they have, and they have found that that investment case stacks up and it has a positive BCR.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef1e5d922048b2fb67b926e95f971562\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: Is she aware that the full investment case published for the State Highway 1 Wellington improvements project has a range of benefit-cost ratio and it could be as low as 0.6, and, if so, that represents a hugely significant loss; does she think that project stacks up, and, if so, why?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022598cfcfd93b2b1f7ddfc66b0b13c1181\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019m aware of a couple of things. The first is that we are still in the early stage in terms of the investment case, and in terms of the overall cost envelope that has been put forward, that includes significant contingency\u2014more than a billion dollars\u2019 worth of contingency in that cost envelope, which reflects NZTA\u2019s learning under the last Government that putting forward low numbers that then blow out again and again and again, as was the case with the so-called shovel-ready projects, is not a good way to go about planning infrastructure. So they have put a significant amount of contingency in that envelope, which, of course, does affect the BCR and could mean the BCR could go higher. I\u2019m also aware that to get to the low number that the member is using, you would have to exclude wider economic benefits. It is the case that Wellingtonians will benefit from having a better connected city\u2014less time spent in traffic; more time being productive.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022034f67dbb151d83c9fd1272514164ea9\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister consider that while bureaucrats can conjure up positive benefit-cost ratios for many ideas, when faced with limited finances a pragmatic person would choose to fix pipes over building new cycle lanes?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022db9e6834acd3ec1bd43b2253afdf38a3\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, if only the former Wellington City Council had had the foresight of that Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220570a33abbb96a3fa32c88049f3984a6\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. Apologies, Mr Speaker, if I\u2019m mistaken, but I\u2019m not sure how the supplementary question relates to the primary and whether the finance Minister has responsibility.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002212fd0d9cbfdc466dabeb8f8dcbcb6d21\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, with all due respect, at least two of the member\u2019s supplementaries so far have been quite tangential to the intention of the primary question. Do you have another supplementary?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002281679f4602fcf9bd5586a3b4fd33cba0\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002258a9ea9d38a797239e2effd9f5a4b647\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: No, no, no; I asked first.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e641e2028953b4d6693b9cfa7840cf6\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, we go side to side.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022531feed758f98a9562fc0b1ca7452e02\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: No, she\u2019s a point of order now\u2014she\u2019s already had three. She didn\u2019t get up for the supplementary question, and now she wants to jump the order again. These people should learn what the processes are here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002209629cf40ee5f72cc3afdb3a18a87df0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, Mr Peters, I called her for a supplementary. She made a point of order; I\u2019m now calling her for a supplementary.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227ffd24a0171cc7fc8b929bd26148a007\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Does she agree with the Infrastructure Commission that \u201CToo often, projects are announced without going through a proper planning process, and maintenance gets routinely deferred in favour of the new and shiny.\u201D, especially given the multibillion-dollar funding gaps our land transport system is projected to face?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220786e8e2966b63c3180bb91bf896fe13\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, yes, I do agree with the Infrastructure Commission, which is one of the reasons why I\u2019m so proud to sit next to Minister Simeon Brown, who, on becoming the Minister of Transport, kicked off the pothole remediation plan, necessary due to the lack of road maintenance that occurred on her watch.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022faa7a4910a03714e9bc36c96dae27be7\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister consider it courageous to carry on with a $4 billion cost blowout in a simple ferry and wharf replacement project, or was it courageous to stop it, fix it, and save the taxpayer $2.3 billion?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f08bbc5d903aa3230727674e8a242ecd\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Indeed, Minister, and I would also reflect that sometimes those in glass houses should not be throwing stones or sitting next to Tamatha Paul, who built cycleways instead of fixing the pipes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002265a21bd4481fd7715f9be0e156fafe84\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, no, that\u2019s\u2014I\u2019m going to\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E]. Consistent with the ruling earlier in the day, the Hon Nicola Willis will withdraw the last part of that answer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aeda6b2333773de305f56c810fcfe736\u0022\u003EHon Nicola Willis\u003C/span\u003E: I withdraw.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002290efb1670f9be3cf54c46fde406a14d7\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: Supplementary?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225464574fcde8c67c9f70751c83318c15\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Supplementary, the Hon\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E] Whoa, whoa. Supplementary, Julie Anne Genter, and no one speaks while questions are being asked.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022516a77f1a6f0fe919ddabd7c7f586a45\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: How will the Minister explain to provincial communities around the country, whose roads are in desperate need of investment, that her Government is going to be building the most expensive road by far ever built in this country for less than 2 kilometres of one car lane in each direction in central Wellington, when across Aotearoa we are being hit by flooding and severe weather events that will mean thousands\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002236ba3d867421c4c272c6e9bae4ef3976\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225a676553fb03187f251f7530a6564e77\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014of kilometres of roads need to be improved?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224bbf43d8eff3f861c36a58c18eabfe76\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just the question\u2014and, sorry, just concise that down to a question without the statements around it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d0be2bb891ad76bb7681ac67e6fd01bd\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: How will she explain to provincial New Zealand that her Government is prioritising $3.8 billion on less than 2 kilometres of one car lane in each direction in our capital city when we could be improving thousands of kilometres\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022605256227779547154805d553fdd2f36\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, you don\u2019t need the last bit\u2014no.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e8ab3fe587421389abf3816eba63c096\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, it\u2019s not a case of either/or; it\u2019s a case of both. I would point out to New Zealanders who share my concern about the resilience of our transport network that NZTA has a multi-hundred-million-dollar programme of resilience works under way across the country to improve the resilience of our roads to increasing climatic events, including flooding and landslides. That work is vital, it must continue, and our Government will continue to ensure there is the funding available to support it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f32b3bb1d4e4abf1ffddaa674d498c62\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: Does she understand that multi-hundred-million is significantly less than $3.8 billion and that by prioritising the Mount Vic tunnel, which has a BCR of less than 1, she is robbing the rest of the country\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225953a5cab35a66ceb1feb755f508cc83\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, you can\u2019t make that statement. [\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E] No\u2014sorry, the question is ruled out. We move to question No. 3.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00227b695788ddd30501a6697f92b192731e\u0022\u003EHealth\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022baf7a071bf0d987dc15c44e1b5ddd977\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 3\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002248cdc67d9f280318d4b93d4ace29d768\u0022\u003EHon Dr AYESHA VERRALL\u003C/span\u003E: Does he still believe that supporting locally trained nurses\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227f918cfd1355d3525f597f64d14a559\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just a moment. We will have quiet while a question\u2019s asked. I\u2019ll call again, Dr Ayesha Verrall\u2014to start the question over.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022 data-id=\u0022873dfd800543020582b5763138bc3f2c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022873dfd800543020582b5763138bc3f2c\u0022\u003EHon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Labour) (14:31)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Health\u003C/span\u003E: Does he still believe that supporting locally trained nurses is key to growing the health system\u2019s nursing workforce; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eb097ee44676c3cd2fb42a9710539183\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The Hon\u2014Simeon Brown. I just\u2014you\u2019re quite unrecognisable at times.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022 data-id=\u0022e916ee4060ddf32d3642b0ce56a02730\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e916ee4060ddf32d3642b0ce56a02730\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN (Minister of Health) (14:32)\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, thank you, Mr Speaker. Supporting our locally trained nurses is an important part of our focus on building a healthcare system that has patients at the centre, and that is why our Government is delivering this for patients. Since September 2023, nursing vacancy rates have reduced from 9.5 percent to 3.6 percent, nursing turnover rates have reduced from 13.3 percent to 8.1 percent, and around 2,000 additional nurses have joined Health New Zealand. This has not happened by accident. Our Government has delivered: 1,400 graduate nurses have been employed by Health New Zealand this financial year to date, tracking well against the plan to hire 1,800, meaning over 80 percent of the total cohort are expected to secure hospital-based roles. We\u2019ve also funded 120 places for nurses to train as nurse practitioners in primary care this year, and funded up to 400 graduate nurses per year taken on by primary and community care employers. More nurses trained here, in New Zealand, delivering front-line care for New Zealand patients\u2014that is what our Government is focused on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a0d8fdaa66db9cc1357e2fe056072385\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: Why, in Christchurch, where a lack of nurses led to staff rationing the amount of care they could give to patients, did his Government slash the number of graduate nurses employed from 84 to 28 percent?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222a2330eb48c9af89970fa745ee3a6046\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN\u003C/span\u003E: Well, as I said, Health New Zealand is making significant progress in strengthening our nursing workforce. Since September 2023, nursing vacancy rates have reduced from 9.5 percent to 3.6 percent. This year, we have hired, so far, 1,430 graduate nurses placed by Health New Zealand, tracking well against the plan to hire 1,800. Those positions are being filled in districts across this country. Our Government\u2019s position is very clear: vacancy rates are down, retention rates are up, and around 2,000 more nurses are working at Health New Zealand since we came to Government. We are making good progress.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec0e3e35b04fe2c8a7d330dbcb87dc8b\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: Why did 340 nursing graduates miss out on jobs at Christchurch Hospital, where patients who are nil by mouth, gowned, and minutes away from surgery have their operations cancelled due to lack of staff?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002274a44fc4fec29666440096064dcdb66a\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN\u003C/span\u003E: Our Government is making good progress in recruiting the nursing staff that New Zealand needs across New Zealand, in districts up and down this country, and, as I\u2019ve said, we have seen nursing vacancy rates drop from 9.5 percent under her watch to 3.6 percent today. Nursing turnover rates have reduced from 13.3 percent to 8.1 percent. We are seeing progress. There is more work to do and we\u2019re continuing to do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224ac31698646b8650f06aae1d792b1150\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: Why did his Government slash the proportion of graduate nurses hired in Tauranga, where Chantelle went to the emergency department with shortness of breath and waited 11 hours to be seen?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e504d01dfd2887aac508bb106a27370f\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN\u003C/span\u003E: As I\u2019ve said, we are hiring around 1,800 graduate nurses this year\u2014it\u2019s a significant intake of nurses\u2014in districts up and down our country, and every district across our country will be hiring nurses, meaning that approximately 80\u00A0percent of the total cohort are expected to secure hospital-based roles. We\u2019re also making wider progress, with nursing vacancy rates having reduced from 9.5 percent to 3.6 percent. The reality is the facts speak to significant work and significant progress being made under this Government to strengthen our nursing workforce.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022492943bce6e7ed792985c641bed975f3\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: How can New Zealanders know they\u2019ll get the care they need when locally trained nurses are in the dole queue or the immigration queue?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e4b7559e53dec08bf7fb28f4e2b7b30d\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN\u003C/span\u003E: Well, when that member was the Minister of Health, nursing turnover\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022915f0f5219100be29f4684a8d3b560ee\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f3294d7339d5c9ee60275808dcdb70f1\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014rates were 13.3 percent. It\u2019s now down to 8.1 percent. Our Government\u2019s vacancy rates are down and retention rates are up. Around 2,000 more nurses are working at Health New Zealand today, since we came into Government. We\u2019re funding graduate placements, training nurse practitioners, and growing the primary and community healthcare workforce. We\u2019re getting on with the job.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221f54404bc5434ba3db77b596ab1c03f9\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. That set of questions all related to the primary, which was about opportunities for graduate nurses. All of the Minister\u2019s answers related to nurses who are already lucky enough to be in the health system. I wonder if you\u2019d consider directing the Minister to actually answer the question about why so many graduate nurses are missing out on jobs in our health system.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f54573fb575438cf465723d10a4fc274\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: While I\u2019m not responsible for the Minister\u2019s answers, I would have thought that if the Minister is talking about a reducing percentage of turnover, that would indicate that there are more people working in the system, and that\u2019s what he said.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002201f738f244724e5b8da066dba7a6a526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022390bc832388873c398c2710c3e5d5218\u0022\u003EDr Tracey McLellan\u003C/span\u003E: No, it doesn\u2019t.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002258d3790391c869c52f0cdc0fcf6fe268\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I heard him say there were 2,000 extra nurses. I\u2019m not going to ask him to do it again. Do you have another supplementary?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002204414297bb4dff9eb48cf18db5527cbb\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: No.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002216ccd9d47594238716f18e47be370839\u0022\u003EFinance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002238c4fabc849fcbdc25fe8d42047ce644\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 4\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022784f4e929aed4ea6a05d1a10add6eccb\u0022 data-id=\u002204775a74dd821562c19da57ee3c3c8aa\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022784f4e929aed4ea6a05d1a10add6eccb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002204775a74dd821562c19da57ee3c3c8aa\u0022\u003ERYAN HAMILTON (National\u2014Hamilton East) (14:38)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Finance\u003C/span\u003E: What reports has she seen on the economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022 data-id=\u0022de4bc29959b54bc1ee24a41a0413b615\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022de4bc29959b54bc1ee24a41a0413b615\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance) (14:38)\u003C/span\u003E: Yesterday, the Reserve Bank released its latest Monetary Policy Statement. This included the bank\u2019s decision to keep the official cash rate (OCR) at 2.25 percent. The Reserve Bank\u2019s forward track implies that this is likely to be the bottom of the easing cycle in terms of OCR reductions, but it also indicated that monetary policy is likely to remain accommodative for some time, with low interest rates continuing to provide stimulus to the economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022784f4e929aed4ea6a05d1a10add6eccb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002268299cea6038f7e2371f63b47cf53096\u0022\u003ERyan Hamilton\u003C/span\u003E: What does the Reserve Bank say about the current performance of the economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002251f25bafaf7dc4e535b5625e60ef8aae\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: The Reserve Bank says that economic activity began recovering over the second half of last year in response to strong export prices and lower interest rates. Although it does note the volatility in recent measured GDP data, it says that \u201CStronger activity has been observed in the rural economy and in the primary sector.\u201D, and says, \u201CThere are signs that the recovery is broadening across the economy\u201D. It notes that residential and business investment is increasing but that households remain cautious for now in their spending. The Reserve Bank\u2019s forecast is for GDP growth of 0.5 percent in the December quarter.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022784f4e929aed4ea6a05d1a10add6eccb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223e812f8d7891531f0e77beefcd16cd4b\u0022\u003ERyan Hamilton\u003C/span\u003E: What does the Reserve Bank say about the economic outlook?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3348447808f9519818d50e2256d0858\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: The Reserve Bank says, \u201CThe economy is at an early stage in its recovery.\u201D It expects growth to continue throughout 2026 and 2027, with increases in business and residential investment, growth in household consumption, and a decline in Government spending as a share of the economy. Economic activity is expected to support growth in employment. The Reserve Bank thinks the unemployment rate peaked in the December quarter last year and will gradually decline from here on. I agree with what the Reserve Bank Governor said on Mike Hosking\u2019s show this morning, which was \u201Cthere is a lot of good potential in this economy.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022784f4e929aed4ea6a05d1a10add6eccb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200930ff74efd081066c4e0a7ace0ae03\u0022\u003ERyan Hamilton\u003C/span\u003E: What does the Reserve Bank say about the outlook for inflation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002241391186a3b8840914d177ad6b6385b1\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, annual Consumers Price Index (CPI) inflation in the December quarter was slightly above the 1 to 3 percent target band. However, the Reserve Bank expects inflation to be within the band this quarter, then converge to near the 2\u00A0percent mid-point as some one-off increases drop out of the annual calculation, and as tradable inflation declines and domestic price pressures moderate. Two percent annual CPI inflation has been the mid-point of the target band for almost 25 years, as successive Governments have pursued the goal of low, stable inflation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022784f4e929aed4ea6a05d1a10add6eccb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ff40eea2d1d2db61868ea7de3a4ed3ab\u0022\u003ERyan Hamilton\u003C/span\u003E: How often in New Zealand\u2019s history has annual CPI inflation been negative?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002243f91246f46cfa564602037a2d4895cb\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, it\u2019s worth pointing out, in the context of recent debate in this House, that price decreases would correspond with negative inflation. Over the past 90 years\u2014so that\u2019s 360 quarters in total\u2014annual CPI inflation has been negative for only four of those quarters. Governments never aim for negative inflation, which is when prices overall are falling, because that can be very harmful to the economy, because when prices are falling, people hold off spending and investing to wait for lower prices, so economic activity seizes up and you get into what is termed \u201Ca deflationary spiral\u201D\u2014very harmful for people. Instead, Governments aim for positive, low, stable inflation. It is tragic when they fail to achieve that, because big price increases do get baked in\u2014for example, when inflation in successive quarters was 6.9 percent, 7.3 percent, 7.2 percent, 7.2 percent, 6.7 percent, and 6 percent, as it was in 2022 and 2023 under the previous Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c3a6d6d557345eb7a672122ea5498496\u0022\u003EHousing\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00228f0cee6e416fe9827a58a178b68b53f1\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 5\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022 data-id=\u0022fadce38f8b78fb70f4bf0da2312f60e3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fadce38f8b78fb70f4bf0da2312f60e3\u0022\u003EHon KIERAN McANULTY (Labour) (14:41)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Housing\u003C/span\u003E: Does he stand by all of his statements and actions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022 data-id=\u0022cbc742723532462c9c646b80189c14c1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cbc742723532462c9c646b80189c14c1\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance) (14:42)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Housing\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, in the context in which they were given.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022277bcaa7952405f76cb94edcb3d5c4a9\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: How will issuing move-on orders, moving homeless people from the CBD to other areas, assist the housing situation in Auckland?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002250988b706e7d0c6757560c4a8728609f\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, we are doing a lot, as a Government, to assist the housing situation in Auckland\u2014in particular, we have contracts with the Auckland City Mission and a number of other housing providers to ensure that transitionary housing support is available, including the wraparound support often needed for people with additional needs that lead them to be living on the streets. It is also the case that, in addition to those social supports available for people, some people behave in ways that are obnoxious and upset the peace of others, and our Government will take action to address that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002275f9520ffd55923bf35f35d146659062\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, who said, \u201CThings have to be practical. They have to work. So if you ban homelessness, where do people actually go? \u2026 you\u2019re better to actually build homes, engage community housing providers, get people a place to go. That\u2019s what actually works.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002285efa503d6d3bf913d879b2e6302f121\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, and that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re doing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c0581ac9b475c2a620cf7d9a86af6438\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: How many of the 300 Housing First places he announced in September have been filled?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002270123b84efd2687e42d627a97e01b263\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister, I don\u2019t have that figure with me, but I\u2019ll be happy to furnish it to the member in the appropriate way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e64765dd3e4a5b03b55ba3463a3017f2\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, sir. While I fully accept that it is a Government\u2019s right to allocate whichever Minister it chooses in the absence of the responsible Minister, we have a situation here today where we have a Minister who is responsible for social housing, who was part of the announcement that I have just referred to, and normal practice would assume that if the housing Minister is away, the associate housing Minister would stand in their stead so that you can avoid the situation that we\u2019re in now, where a Minister answering on behalf of a Minister is unable to answer a simple question, which the Minister who has the associate delegation would have been able to answer. It seems, sir, that this tactic, if not monitored, could be used to avoid answering questions in future. To your point earlier this week, sir, this is election year, so we want to be conscious of these things.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222a42c818b4e88b8eee11a85e39084a91\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I am conscious of that, and that\u2019s\u2014if you look at it, firstly, your first point was that it\u2019s the Government who decides who is most capable of answering the question. The question you did ask was relatively specific, and there was an indication that the answer would be provided through a different means. I think I can\u2019t do more than just that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002281d869f763cceb33ee5be86183935169\u0022\u003EHon Louise Upston\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b445f23d0cad3fef5c7d22836ed6e222\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Have you got a supplementary question?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227e42456562593dd5b73e2184f7a90db3\u0022\u003EHon Louise Upston\u003C/span\u003E: No, speaking to the point of order. Speaking to the point of order, the primary question was incredibly broad, so there was nothing specific in the primary that indicated the line of questioning.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226cdf00767e12e199cfc18d54762d3a44\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m well aware of that; I\u2019ve just ruled on it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a65321e5f52437e7eb12daf07379fb5e\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Will he accept that with only half of the places he announced in September actually being filled and the number of homeless in Auckland far exceeding that number and continuing to grow, move-on orders aren\u2019t about addressing homelessness but just trying to look like they are?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002218e7631efa4a379cc348a804ab79afa9\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: No, I won\u2019t accept that, but what I will say is that the Government has funded a number of housing places so that people who are without homes are able to get appropriate housing. We do encourage, and have been working hard behind the scenes with, community housing providers to ensure that they take all steps necessary to fill those places, which is to say that if there are people who are homeless, there are housing places available for them. The member has actually highlighted this point by highlighting that we are funding housing places right now that are available for people who are on the street should, they connect with them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022554db062f0d4cd9df7a1eb6b794e3db1\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, sir. Now, I accept that the Minister, by her own admission, is not fully on top of this issue, and fair enough\u2014she\u2019s answering on behalf of, and she\u2019s not got the associate delegation\u2014but she has just made a comment that is factually incorrect and has been shown, through previous questions to the actual Associate Minister of Housing, that is not the case. I would like to give her the opportunity to correct that now rather than going through a privileges process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200790842bf52b824cfb516ecf145c41e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I can\u2019t judge whether or not the Minister should or should not have known something\u2014that\u2019s not the role of the Speaker. An answer was given. If you\u2019re not happy with that answer, use other remedies.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226e270621f60a73bf55ce8f37202e6d14\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister aware that move-on orders could lead to incarcerating homeless people, which would cost around $200,000 per year, which is far more expensive than actually housing people?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d4cd39c863197580516c27ea810ed260\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister of Housing, it is always the case that putting people in prison comes with a significant cost to the Crown. It is also the case that people committing crime against other New Zealanders comes at a considerable cost. We on this side of the House are happy to be on the side of law and order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229340db0d6051493982fc3db81fee975a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002288d473bffd7647d6b59ca1c37cdbd0f7\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: When, if ever, will Government Ministers respond to my letter from last year inviting them to walk the streets of Auckland Central to meet the people, including the children, who their Government policies have made homeless?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227136018005ddb8d124b47326cc54180c\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister of Housing, I do walk the streets of Auckland reasonably regularly, as do my colleagues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a55695ffce30e0538e33987be266baa4\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002221dec54a972620857b390d077ae3d2b5\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just a moment. Just a moment. All questions are heard in silence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002291c0e777ce3d4711ace36a15c7e22ffe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002204ff7766168eb7f77d55707d0f1ab689\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that Government Ministers are capable of walking the streets of Auckland and do on many occasions without the assistance of the member for\u2014whatever it is\u2014Auckland Central?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226dd77c7e3a4b3884db5ba7f638b9a1bb\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister of Housing, yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00226dea67ee5bfa061366ee93ff9d81b183\u0022\u003EPrime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002286a35045b8f0a37da2a1b603805940b3\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 6\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022443f23de4cbd464f91833e6c466c98c0\u0022 data-id=\u0022445afa790d8592747bb3a11daf293b64\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022443f23de4cbd464f91833e6c466c98c0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022445afa790d8592747bb3a11daf293b64\u0022\u003ETODD STEPHENSON (ACT) (14:48)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EPrime Minister\u003C/span\u003E: Does he stand by all of his Government\u2019s statements and actions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022 data-id=\u0022857019b7ae5dccddc644d69a6afbc86b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022857019b7ae5dccddc644d69a6afbc86b\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR (Deputy Prime Minister) (14:48)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EPrime Minister\u003C/span\u003E: Yes\u2014particularly our continued drive to make careful use of taxpayer money. It\u2019s long been said that monetary policy needs friends, and monetary policy in New Zealand finally has a friend in this Government. By keeping tight spending allowances and driving for efficiency to get more out of less with Government services, we\u2019ve been able to keep standards up while also taking pressure off inflation, which has halved, and interest rates, which have also halved. We saw, just yesterday, the Reserve Bank Governor suggest that relatively low mortgage rates will remain, to use her word, \u201Caccommodative\u201D for some time. We\u2019re not only making careful use of money; we\u2019re also cutting red tape to make life more affordable. Just today, I saw three small examples that are significant to New Zealanders from Ministers in this Government\u2014Nicole McKee allowing clubs, such as RSAs, to apply for on-licences so that more people can access good times in an affordable setting, and Brooke van Velden making it possible to charge electric vehicles and run amusements for children; all of the things that make life better and more affordable by cutting red tape through this Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022443f23de4cbd464f91833e6c466c98c0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f0bf89c53802fa869bf37522f67bd4e1\u0022\u003ETodd Stephenson\u003C/span\u003E: What is the Government doing to reduce the size of Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002274d1b71abfbd821beac5d0b4e5400ec2\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: Well, just today, the Government has introduced legislation to be debated later on. That legislation will take four ministries and merge them into one, with one Minister, one coherent purpose, one budget, and one set of accountability to make sure that we build the pipes and the pumping stations and the infrastructure to connect homes together for the next generation. That is the sort of reorganisation whose time has come, I believe\u2014and that Governments in the future should do much more of as they seek to be smaller and more efficient to serve New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022443f23de4cbd464f91833e6c466c98c0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220c08f1551315f06a493b8b76e5bd75d3\u0022\u003ETodd Stephenson\u003C/span\u003E: Does a smaller Government mean New Zealanders will get less out of their Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a90a2bfe9fad3924bd341655e4e49cf\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: The answer, on behalf of the Prime Minister, is no. I\u2019m hearing people on the other side say yes, and that is because they have a mentality that the only way to solve a problem is to throw more money at it. They think that aroha comes from spending more taxpayers\u2019 money and borrowing off future taxpayers. We know, on this side of the House, that if we really love the next generation, then we will have a smaller, more efficient Government that delivers the public services New Zealanders require, without believing that borrowing and spending more money is the only way to achieve results. We know what happens when we do that, and that\u2019s why New Zealanders will be asking themselves: why put it all at risk this November?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022443f23de4cbd464f91833e6c466c98c0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002247b5de6350a85f42181a234d10804646\u0022\u003ETodd Stephenson\u003C/span\u003E: What actions is the Government taking to take the pressure off rental costs?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002235b4970af3c80f8360ae33d9dc54f83e\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: Well, many things. I mentioned earlier that we have been careful with our own spending so that mortgage rates can fall. They\u2019ve halved under this Government. That means that we now see less pressure on rent because many landlords are trying to service mortgages. We\u2019ve also made mortgage interest a deductible expense for people renting out homes, and that has put downward pressure on rents, which have fallen in many cases. We\u2019ve also simplified the Residential Tenancies Act so that a landlord can take a chance on a tenant and offer them a place to live, knowing they can get out of the relationship if it goes wrong. Those three changes have made it better to be a tenant in this country, and we\u2019re very proud of what we\u2019ve done to make renting more affordable as a Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229340db0d6051493982fc3db81fee975a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022118c418ad57c71a6d45fa0a46c163b4c\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c5c2074b81c6c1fe3b5e71ecd2f25541\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, the Hon Chl\u00F6e\u2014Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229340db0d6051493982fc3db81fee975a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223dfdfad3740db04ef7be2ac754e62cff\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll take it, Mr Speaker. The Minister may wish to revise his answer to that question just now, because I believe that potentially he may be in violation of Standing Order 418(b), and that is misleading the House. There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever\u2014in fact, evidence to the contrary, both from Treasury and from the Reserve Bank\u2014that the Government\u2019s decisions around the likes of the brightline test put upward pressure on house prices. In fact, the reason that they are falling is because of the record number of New Zealanders leaving.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022efc104cf8afa41584912e645ec22aa6e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry; that is, with all due respect\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E] Excuse me. That is not a point of order; it\u2019s a debating point, and members should be careful about raising those things. You cannot invite someone to correct themselves; there\u2019s a process for that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225b6caf1ee72e6b9105f90505b97eaef8\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with David Seymour that the Government is \u201Copen to the possibility\u201D of abandoning the liquefied natural gas tax because people are concerned that their \u201Cpower bills add up higher\u201D as a result?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002283e066d2d46f45cf5a0657de425f5528\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Prime Minister, I find David Seymour very agreeable and a great person to agree with. Sadly, in this case, I happen to have some insight that he didn\u2019t exactly make that quote.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002299136bcfcb6d5a7e32af4347caaa7ca9\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek leave to table a transcript with David Seymour on Heather du Plessis-Allan\u2019s show on 18 February where he is quoted as saying this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef53d9899b3520b2b0f8216581489ac9\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s fine; it\u2019s publicly available.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f0e37ca74a815fbc5c75214e34cdf4ee\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: No, it\u2019s not publicly available; it\u2019s a transcript of the interview.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c74f5eb2cce4f50f33c2edd00ad66dbe\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a1ca65a0e6def51011b5e3550a2671be\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just a moment. Well, look, the House can make up its mind.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225181a40034d0106b13ee854a34a9a88a\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Can I speak to the point of order?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227587ff7e9cdfcdc639839f21237a9851\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s unusual. No, it wasn\u2019t a point of order; she was seeking leave.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022493c393af33797579d3b57914cc4502e\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s a very important point. She\u2019s seeking to table\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ddb45c89db347b1ada2638e9958e675d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Peters, please, sit down.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002208d92464d154d340a9ef0337fd4de884\u0022\u003EHon Member: \u003C/span\u003EOh, shut up, Peters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022580de3cccf1e6b37ceeab735766e8197\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: I won\u2019t be shutting up for you, you turkey. She\u2019s seeking to recite a quote which, if it had any veracity, should have been attached to the question in the first place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a6656ef310ad268da59831aa544dd0e1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought. Is there any objection to that course of action? There is. [\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022342d4973e1a47f1c1a4a4eba4f5cdab1\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: You don\u2019t like the truth; they don\u2019t want the truth.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225d323c3e0b34109f5cd07505a55049e4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Excuse me. Mr Jackson, I\u2019ve been pushed to take a hard line on high standards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022983cc971e4959c9f4a067bb16310234f\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, sir. Now, it\u2019s quite clear that Willie Jackson is now on a warning; that if he interrupts you again, he\u2019ll be sent out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ca32e3cb5860ba2cb767f3dcecda15ce\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, it\u2019s not. No\u2014no. Please don\u2019t interpret\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f5db7556ed576d763b23f102dfc9eee9\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: So he can carry on? The point is, sir\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224d79fd6768ad4d91ff252a299c4af183\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No\u2014sorry. The member is going to trifle with the Chair if he carries on with that. Make up your own mind.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022666bfe23aa4fb34e67371d2c2ae9efbf\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, sir.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d92953c6b5bf263e2405b74d574d6868\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: OK. It better be a very clear point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223e1a9f6a27d4911f288dfad00956cf71\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: It is a point of order because I\u2019m concerned that, just by that statement, it\u2019s quite clear that you\u2019re saying that if I trifle with you again, I will leave, but you won\u2019t even require someone making a racist comment to withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EQuestion time interrupted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022aa479d88d26d85a01787b095d689b7d4\u0022\u003EWithdrawal from Chamber\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022181a3fe315f171c364175007072e8786\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u0022b7af3e2088f83db42375256e0ba80d68\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b7af3e2088f83db42375256e0ba80d68\u0022\u003ESPEAKER (14:56)\u003C/span\u003E: The member will leave the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002214c0fe64e011a5108fbfc03747b952ed\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Double standards, sir\u2014double standards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty withdrew from the Chamber.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227dccaeef9c019034ea66b1feb5aac8e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yup. Keep saying it. [\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E] Just a moment. Look, here\u2019s the deal: I ruled on something today; this side of the House challenged that significantly. Everyone knows that\u2019s not what is supposed to happen. Second thing is, during that exchange there, when a question had started, there was a lot of conversation, from this House, being led by one member in particular. I pointed it out; everyone knows that\u2019s not the way the House functions, and, somehow, that\u2019s exercising a double standard.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229340db0d6051493982fc3db81fee975a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022578cc6848b66d42f7b83eb0727f2f64e\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002225f2a90951bbf073f97cec48705512c6\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s, also, an attack on the House. If people want to keep on sitting there, saying, \u201CYes, that\u2019s the case.\u201D, they can go and join him. In the meantime, we\u2019ll have the supplementary question from Todd Stephenson.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a85cc928f847a74772bfaf376b560f83\u0022\u003EOral Questions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00220eb4e140774ff12b7988ba0eb4512c62\u0022\u003EPrime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002292a4ae71a8ef9ac7511bd04cca467145\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 6\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000245\u0022\u003EQuestion time resumed.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022443f23de4cbd464f91833e6c466c98c0\u0022 data-id=\u0022c909aac8d1701a861e5eab715b66994d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022443f23de4cbd464f91833e6c466c98c0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c909aac8d1701a861e5eab715b66994d\u0022\u003ETODD STEPHENSON (ACT) (14:57)\u003C/span\u003E: Still to the Prime Minister: does he stand by the creation of the Ministry for Regulation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022 data-id=\u002200092bdbf7a53b337f1e93818785466a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002200092bdbf7a53b337f1e93818785466a\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR (Deputy Prime Minister) (14:57)\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Prime Minister, absolutely, and how could you not when it has demonstrated savings for Kiwis that far exceed the cost of the ministry itself\u2014in one estimate, by a ratio of $16 of extra economic activity for every $1 it costs to cut red tape? Whether you\u2019re trying to bake cakes, build a garden shed, run a hairdresser or a day care, grow hemp, or even just get probate for a will, the interventions of the Ministry for Regulation are cutting away the red tape that makes life unaffordable for New Zealanders and we\u2019re having a great deal of fun doing it. In stark contrast, there is the Opposition, who have wasted almost an hour of the public\u2019s time today with pointless\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f3b6b034bc1f9625a4fa800d6b587856\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No\u2014no. That\u2019s not acceptable\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002258fca359e4af8a928f6577197bc36b49\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014out-of-order points of order; that\u2019s why we\u2019re proud to be on this side.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221b60b68e6495b7187e5b71b5ad019046\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Seymour, that is completely unacceptable, entirely unhelpful, and that\u2019ll be the end of that question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c2d2e64c4d8e3ff7fd74376ca426dc3b\u0022\u003EHealth\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e6c0a37ed2ed485b6c78cce41aa3b2f9\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 7\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022200839810eb94155be7306bf21d350dd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002297bffd16d3a13947c8d3843e5d12d341\u0022\u003ESAM UFFINDELL\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cc722be717f1c285f7bc547a0967a10f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry\u2014the next person who speaks while a question\u2019s being asked will be leaving.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022200839810eb94155be7306bf21d350dd\u0022 data-id=\u0022b4b9d32cbedf36debc04d9c6bbe2f7f1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022200839810eb94155be7306bf21d350dd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b4b9d32cbedf36debc04d9c6bbe2f7f1\u0022\u003ESAM UFFINDELL (National\u2014Tauranga) (14:58)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Health\u003C/span\u003E: What recent announcements has he made about enabling 12-month prescriptions for patients?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022 data-id=\u0022e2023e48c2eb4b032b601dcae175b24f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e2023e48c2eb4b032b601dcae175b24f\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN (Minister of Health) (14:58)\u003C/span\u003E: Our Government is focused on making a real difference for patients. That\u2019s why, from 1 February this year, New Zealanders with stable, long-term conditions can now receive prescriptions for up to 12 months. This common-sense solution will help patients with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and high blood pressure by reducing their need to renew prescriptions every three months. This change reduces costs for patients that need repeat prescriptions, improves access to medicines, and frees up valuable GP time for those who need appointments.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022200839810eb94155be7306bf21d350dd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229bdf5f3cb7b9bfe605740783ad12cd06\u0022\u003ESam Uffindell\u003C/span\u003E: How will this change benefit patients with long-term conditions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eac6fb8b57e79933658282630e26e655\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN\u003C/span\u003E: We are making the system work better for the patients it serves. For those managing stable, ongoing conditions, this change will mean fewer trips to the doctor just to renew a routine prescription and fewer prescription charges over the year. Patients will continue to collect their repeats from the pharmacy as usual but will no longer need to return to their doctor each time for a new script. This is expected to save patients up to $120 per year, for those who receive 12-month prescriptions. This is a practical, patient-focused change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022200839810eb94155be7306bf21d350dd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222f4f2901fcf9fb5bef6ef70d82be4333\u0022\u003ESam Uffindell\u003C/span\u003E: What benefits will this have for access to primary care?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022872da1a020f12b046492efc8b3000552\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN\u003C/span\u003E: This is a win-win for both patients and health professionals. This gives doctors and prescribers the ability to prescribe for up to 12 months for stable, ongoing conditions, reducing the burden on GPs and other prescribers, who currently spend time issuing repeat prescriptions every three months. This initiative will free up appointments for patients with more immediate or complex needs. This policy isn\u2019t just about expanding prescription lengths; it\u2019s also about using our health workforce more efficiently to improve timely access to care and ensure patients can see a clinician when they need to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022200839810eb94155be7306bf21d350dd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224cce7ad84f820fffb214632192d63f2f\u0022\u003ESam Uffindell\u003C/span\u003E: What other steps has the Government taken to improve access to medicines?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ace0530fb68c6fb808be8f87cbc12fab\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN\u003C/span\u003E: In addition to 12-month prescriptions, we\u2019ve also increased prescribing rights for health professionals such as nurse practitioners, enabling them to prescribe a wider range of medicines within their area of practice, and we\u2019ve progressed practical changes to strengthen the pharmacy workforce by removing ownership restrictions that limited pharmacist prescribers from prescribing if they owned or held an interest in a pharmacy. Together, these patient-focused changes will ensure New Zealanders have quicker, easier, and more affordable access to the care and medicines they need. It\u2019s all part of our plan to fix the basics and build the future for a more patient-focused health system.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00223486cf1618cb168a1404483db82dd2f0\u0022\u003EInternal Affairs\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00225dd3ce6703d72947ba6d55bd18e2b26e\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 8\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022258b65104d9046dfb49eb940c68bddda\u0022 data-id=\u00224ff8f96c78d8aae88b96315263121cde\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022258b65104d9046dfb49eb940c68bddda\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224ff8f96c78d8aae88b96315263121cde\u0022\u003ELEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE (Labour\u2014M\u0101ngere) (15:01)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Internal Affairs\u003C/span\u003E: Is she confident that Fire and Emergency New Zealand is doing everything it can to ensure firefighters are receiving a fair deal; if so, why?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222204e041e14c40fcbec76cc14f0da486\u0022 data-id=\u0022a8d9a8986b89262ee1414628bbd87d1d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222204e041e14c40fcbec76cc14f0da486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a8d9a8986b89262ee1414628bbd87d1d\u0022\u003EHon BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Minister of Internal Affairs) (15:01)\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. I understand the leadership of Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) have sought an agreement with the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) that complies with the Government\u2019s Workforce Policy Statement, is affordable, and doesn\u2019t increase cost of living for Kiwis. I\u2019m advised that the NZPFU\u2019s most recent settlement proposal was more than three times higher than Fire and Emergency\u2019s last offer, which they believe was fair, sustainable, and reasonable, and in line with other settlements across the Public Service. Facilitated bargaining with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) is under way at the request of Fire and Emergency, as they believe the ERA gives them the best chance of coming to a positive, sustainable outcome and introducing some realism into discussions. That process continues and, as it is an independent process, it is not appropriate that I comment too much further.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022258b65104d9046dfb49eb940c68bddda\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228aac0caee92d8603081299fee35bec71\u0022\u003ELemauga Lydia Sosene\u003C/span\u003E: How can she be confident when firefighters are striking twice a week?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222204e041e14c40fcbec76cc14f0da486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225253db76fd2dd91d1a4c5f8fea869684\u0022\u003EHon BROOKE VAN VELDEN\u003C/span\u003E: Industrial action that puts the community at risk doesn\u2019t help to get trucks fixed or build new ones or make any settlements. Fire and Emergency have been in bargaining with the NZPFU for 583 days. They have been willing to be at the table. Striking doesn\u2019t help settle any faster.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022258b65104d9046dfb49eb940c68bddda\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022896da8537194b267d263b769143b3570\u0022\u003ELemauga Lydia Sosene\u003C/span\u003E: Is she concerned that her cuts of $50 million a year have led to a situation where FENZ cannot make the investment in the staff and equipment they need to keep firefighters safe, resulting in the strike?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222204e041e14c40fcbec76cc14f0da486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a13f37e7e113d0cdb8ac11438449895a\u0022\u003EHon BROOKE VAN VELDEN\u003C/span\u003E: Absolutely I refute that. What I would say, though, is that when Ministers get personally involved in collective bargaining, as previous Ministers of Internal Affairs have done, it hasn\u2019t led to better outcomes. Let me tell the members of the public who\u2019ll be listening what happens when former Ministers of Internal Affairs have gotten involved: there was a 24 percent pay increase in the 2022 agreement with the NZPFU, which required a Crown loan of $75 million, which Fire and Emergency is still trying to pay back, and has paid over $5 million just in interest costs on that loan, which is being paid for by people out there in our community as levy payers. This is a Government that is looking at how we can constrain the fiscal environment and have a fair outcome for the professional firefighters as well as the people who pay their wages.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022258b65104d9046dfb49eb940c68bddda\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bf79458755754740b51dce484eeefbd5\u0022\u003ELemauga Lydia Sosene\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister name any other profession where workers must strike to get the basic equipment they need to do their jobs safely?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222204e041e14c40fcbec76cc14f0da486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d29f394cac73ef9e4f01093602640429\u0022\u003EHon BROOKE VAN VELDEN\u003C/span\u003E: No, and the NZPFU doesn\u2019t need to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022258b65104d9046dfb49eb940c68bddda\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e9e11819afd15f60e0f8421ccc42322\u0022\u003ELemauga Lydia Sosene\u003C/span\u003E: How can Kiwis have confidence that firefighters will be able to turn up when they need them when they are dealing with basic equipment failures that prevent them from doing their job safely?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222204e041e14c40fcbec76cc14f0da486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229684934f77841bea54c961ec7fdebfcc\u0022\u003EHon BROOKE VAN VELDEN\u003C/span\u003E: All New Zealanders do want to have confidence that the right resources will arrive quickly to an incident, and that is what Fire and Emergency seeks to uphold. Whenever we have a fleet of around 1,300 trucks, there is always going to be a maintenance issue, but Fire and Emergency give me assurance that when they have a networked approach\u2014which is what they do\u2014they respond to incidents with backup trucks and backup crews available to respond as required so a breakdown doesn\u2019t mean that no one is coming, and I would caution the member attempting to try and create any perception for members of the public that there is unsafety because of Fire and Emergency\u2019s leadership. What is unsafe is the NZPFU striking when Fire and Emergency as a leadership team are ready to be around that bargaining table, because it\u2019s already been 583 days of willingness from this side.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f3bf9047181469205dacf3f7f0c0b545\u0022\u003EEducation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022076be22fe1f5dc9b0393b2d89d054b1d\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 9\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022 data-id=\u00226bd8f4902d3f66a45e018864b33adf89\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226bd8f4902d3f66a45e018864b33adf89\u0022\u003ERIMA NAKHLE (National\u2014Takanini) (15:06)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Education\u003C/span\u003E: What announcement has she made regarding school property?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022 data-id=\u00221e3ce2fff47064ce902a042507f42451\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221e3ce2fff47064ce902a042507f42451\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD (Minister of Education) (15:06)\u003C/span\u003E: Last week, I attended the opening of a brand new primary school in Takanini. Te Kura Rau Iti has the capacity for 700 students to support roll growth in the fast-growing suburb of Flat Bush. The school was built in under 18 months and came in below budget following our inquiry into school property and a subsequent value-for-money exercise. It cost $41 million\u2014almost half the previous build cost, estimated to be $76.5 million projected in 2023. Not only did we build the school for $41 million, saving $35 million; we also delivered an extra 100 student places for that price\u2014no open-plan classrooms, no expensive, unnecessary bespoke designs; just getting on with the job and delivering warm, safe, dry classrooms for our kids.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022839581d285c15bc8beb833577b5fc818\u0022\u003ERima Nakhle\u003C/span\u003E: How has the Government been able to deliver this?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a42878fe066ea08209545372e2ae4d74\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: The delivery of this school on time and under budget proves that our Government\u2019s approach to school property delivery is working. We undertook an inquiry into school property and appointed a ministerial advisory group to bring commercial oversight to school property. We\u2019ve driven a focus in the ministry on moving away from bespoke, expensive, architecturally designed buildings. We\u2019re using off-site manufacturing with standardised, repeatable, quality designs and layouts. Through these changes, we\u2019ve been able to halve the cost of building a classroom so that we can deliver more classrooms faster and at a lower cost\u2014and that\u2019s what delivery looks like.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a4d917c7599e6862a4d3854ba4b111c1\u0022\u003ERima Nakhle\u003C/span\u003E: What else has she announced on school property?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221df8182c124a82f1c84ec9021ad5f205\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: For the first time in 50 years, we\u2019re building two new specialist day schools to support children with high and complex additional learning needs. One is in Palmerston North, where there is no provision for 72 kilometres, and the other is in South Auckland where the wait-lists are just not keeping up. Over the last two Budgets, we\u2019ve ring-fenced money for specialist education and property, including funding 50 new specialist satellite classrooms and the redevelopment of four specialist schools. Learning support is a huge priority for this Government, and that includes empowering parents to make the choice that is best for their children.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002285fbb8de277d1e8a630649287a680eb8\u0022\u003ERima Nakhle\u003C/span\u003E: How have schools been supported with their maintenance work?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f95231953bd12b48ad5b82bd2a162124\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: As well as building more classrooms than ever before, this Government is focused on maintaining the schools and classrooms that we have. The Budget 2024 uplift of $780 million in depreciation funding for school property maintenance was almost double that of the previous six years. We helped to get maintenance work under way over the summer break, with a $58 million package for schools to help their painting, repairs, and other minor fixes. We increased the Five Year Agreement funding for schools by 50 percent for the first time since 2010 to help schools with planned upgrades, modernisation, and replacement of existing school buildings. We\u2019re completing work to support improvements in school property for 934 isolated small and rural schools. This work also means more jobs for our tradies, which is all contributing to economic growth.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220c1ac4e592ea16e35b53305b89267277\u0022\u003EDr Lawrence Xu-Nan\u003C/span\u003E: What plans does the Minister have to address the Ministry of Education\u2019s assessment identifying 1,102 schools and kura\u2014about 44 percent of all schools\u2014as potentially exposed to costal, surface, or river flooding, and 106 schools as vulnerable to coastal flooding or landslides?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229851f56afc12e0e1285561d99118a6a0\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the Ministry of Education, for the first time, is putting in place 10-year property plans. It is the first time that the Ministry of Education has done this to take into account a range of different issues so that we can make really good budget decisions every single year, taking all of these things into consideration.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223620c83867d0ac655878affb857eefe3\u0022\u003EDr Lawrence Xu-Nan\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Minister ensure that financial support will be available for schools to address climate-charged, weather-related damages, or does the Minister expect schools to pay for the damages out of their own operational fund?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f9835c57f1f5c346e913780a96296d3d\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Well, with recent weather events that have impacted schools, of course insurance, for the most part, covers those damages, but the Ministry of Education always comes to the party where we need to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002253577da2bb18dab0b268e7ee9162a8ce\u0022\u003EUniversities\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b40041fb5890bac44e9e9bf69d47a79c\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 10\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225322e0a4529b497cbc59faf0515037dd\u0022 data-id=\u0022dcfd4b41774c88077b406422bfe7b438\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225322e0a4529b497cbc59faf0515037dd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dcfd4b41774c88077b406422bfe7b438\u0022\u003ESHANAN HALBERT (Labour) (15:11)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for Universities\u003C/span\u003E: Does he think that the current student loan levels are sufficient to allow students to focus on their studies; if so, why?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022 data-id=\u00223dd94f50a946f73c5d65c8baef82a63e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223dd94f50a946f73c5d65c8baef82a63e\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD (Acting Minister for Universities) (15:11)\u003C/span\u003E: The Government expects the costs of study to be shared between learners\u2014for example, through part-time work or summer jobs\u2014their families, and the Government, and this has been a long-held position. Since 2005, there has been an inflationary adjustment every year, through multiple Governments, designed to account for annual inflationary changes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225322e0a4529b497cbc59faf0515037dd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224bb977a9111cf8abcb7e78d7c66c864e\u0022\u003EShanan Halbert\u003C/span\u003E: How can students get by when the student loan living costs increased by 2.2 percent but the cost of food is up 4.6 percent in the last year and energy is up 18 percent since the election?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229e46f151e5c6ed2e8b351606a2853f44\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: As I have already outlined, the annual calculation to those increases has been almost exactly the same since 2005. There have been a couple of adjustments, but, for the most part, they have been the same. I would like to point out that in 2022, when the Consumers Price Index was running at 7.22 percent and food inflation was running at over 12 percent, it was really tough for students, but this Government has driven down the cost of living, we\u2019ve got inflation under control, rents are flat to falling, and if that member was so concerned about the calculations\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022706e3b56a33bf72c245f1e5930a682ae\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, that\u2019s enough.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225322e0a4529b497cbc59faf0515037dd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221056b2a02eccfc829eaaf9aa487d8968\u0022\u003EShanan Halbert\u003C/span\u003E: In what ways has this Government driven down the cost of living for university students?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022db0074c9a92b81301554f2677873e06e\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: As I\u2019ve just mentioned, if you compared the stats to a few years ago, they\u2019re much better than they were. One example, of course, is rents: driven up under the previous Government by $150, they\u2019re now flat to falling, and in places like Auckland and Wellington, significantly falling.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225322e0a4529b497cbc59faf0515037dd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002212865c004787f6880fa560c39acaafe7\u0022\u003EShanan Halbert\u003C/span\u003E: Does he think eating, paying rent, and having electricity are optional luxuries for students?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022550d8ce68872b010f354a07001163dd9\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: As I said in my primary question, the costs for students fall on three parties; it has been a long-held position. They fall on students, their families, and on the Government, and it\u2019s up to students to make sure they\u2019re making use of the student loan scheme as well as looking after some of their costs through part-time work, either during term time or during their summer jobs, and also with support from their families.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225322e0a4529b497cbc59faf0515037dd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221821d66cae262583850853a3ebed771c\u0022\u003EShanan Halbert\u003C/span\u003E: Why is his solution just for students to work on top of their studies when his Government has also made it harder for students to even find a job?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f657418ea9dc79be4e88c24e1da422a7\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: The outlook, according to Treasury, was much worse than it actually has been. This Government has been working really hard to make sure that there are opportunities available for New Zealanders. We have been working hard to make sure that we\u2019re driving investment into this country. We\u2019re making sure that we are driving down the cost of borrowing so that companies can expand and create more jobs. The outlook for students, compared to just a few years ago, is a lot better than it was.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228c9dc9dc971135c2691a9ff171a63538\u0022\u003ETourism and Hospitality\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00225d16715b3f0b265f49827ca0e2279127\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 11\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226aa6725740ef48a8bd0e0d084ac074fc\u0022 data-id=\u0022febb1970002e31482450fc6c2bff689a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226aa6725740ef48a8bd0e0d084ac074fc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022febb1970002e31482450fc6c2bff689a\u0022\u003EMILES ANDERSON (National\u2014Waitaki) (15:14)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for Tourism and Hospitality\u003C/span\u003E: What recent progress has she seen on tourism and major events in New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022 data-id=\u002249bcce8a6dc4ebee349b14ef2026da20\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002249bcce8a6dc4ebee349b14ef2026da20\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Tourism and Hospitality) (15:15)\u003C/span\u003E: New data released by Stats NZ last week showed international visitor arrivals reached 3.51\u00A0million in the year to December 2025, putting us at 90\u00A0percent of pre-COVID levels. This is the first annual period to exceed 3.5\u00A0million overseas visitor arrivals since the March 2020 year, meaning tourism levels are now at their highest since December 2019. Visitor arrivals from Australia reached 1.52 million in the year to December 2025\u2014an increase of 10\u00A0percent on the previous year\u2014while arrivals from China were up 29\u00A0percent over the same period. Growing tourism is a key part of our plan to fix the basics and build the future. This progress shows that our plan is working.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226aa6725740ef48a8bd0e0d084ac074fc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b115d973b86e869fa5860bd5efe1d5d9\u0022\u003EMiles Anderson\u003C/span\u003E: What progress has she seen in the business events sector?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bad50f4bcea9f71f209e7dd3410e8b26\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: Last week, the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) was officially opened. This world-class venue is estimated to bring in 33,000 international conference visitors who would not otherwise come to New Zealand, contributing $90\u00A0million of new spending annually. New research from Business Events Industry Aotearoa also shows that multi-day conferences delivered $925\u00A0million in economic and productivity contribution in 2025. This was before the opening of the NZICC last week, so I\u2019m really excited to see where we go from here. With more than 120 events having already been confirmed for NZICC in 2026, the strong pipeline of events means more visitors to New Zealand, more economic activity, more jobs, and more opportunities for Kiwis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226aa6725740ef48a8bd0e0d084ac074fc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d9135d2cd68381eefeee804a908e1b2d\u0022\u003EMiles Anderson\u003C/span\u003E: How are recent visa changes impacting visitor numbers?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227d953f74a335b93f2d583fc78f3727f1\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: Changes that allow eligible visitors from China and the Pacific to travel to New Zealand from Australia with a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, or an NZeTA, rather than a visa are also making a difference. To date, we\u2019ve seen over 36,000 additional arrivals from China travelling through this pathway. With an average visitor spend of $5,800 for Chinese visitors, that amounts to an estimated economic injection of $210\u00A0million for Kiwi businesses for those visitors. A new survey following these changes shows that being able to travel with an NZeTA was a deciding factor in people\u2019s decisions to visit New Zealand. Eighty-five percent of respondents have said they travelled to New Zealand specifically because of the NZeTA option becoming available. I\u2019m proud to have worked with my colleague the Hon Erica Stanford on this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226aa6725740ef48a8bd0e0d084ac074fc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002245d9a43293d31027e9c1b84a4220920e\u0022\u003EMiles Anderson\u003C/span\u003E: What feedback has she seen on the progress on tourism and major events?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1901a44e88e40d095f26c06ebac9721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002214e1806b4f5924b6f6ab075214cc8987\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: We\u2019ve received a range of positive feedback on our progress to date. Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive Rebecca Ingram says, \u201CForward bookings are looking positive, and the industry has real momentum.\u201D She attributed that to the Government\u2019s tourism focus and investments, targeted marketing from Tourism New Zealand, changes in visa settings, and new and exciting changes on the horizon. James Doolan from Hotel Council Aotearoa said, \u201CCentral government\u2019s increased investment in event attraction and destination marketing have allowed private businesses to invest in their assets.\u201D Tourism is critical to our economy, and our investments will help to deliver lasting benefits for communities and businesses from one end of New Zealand to the other.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c9d8b4801fd76fe06945208dce4a3f99\u0022\u003EEmergency Management and Recovery\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002294461329fc775a4c613eb24f0f89f72a\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 12\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022420f72e8bcc84c869a366ff712af8e49\u0022 data-id=\u00223469acecb413a2d139cf40055ac194cd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022420f72e8bcc84c869a366ff712af8e49\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223469acecb413a2d139cf40055ac194cd\u0022\u003EHANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE (Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014Hauraki-Waikato) (15:19)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for Emergency Management and Recovery\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with the Prime Minister that \u201CIwi and marae are very good at emergency management. They don\u2019t just stand up for iwi, they stand up for the entire community\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022 data-id=\u0022e91e40f3bddab1d32c3c2d4af26a90f9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e91e40f3bddab1d32c3c2d4af26a90f9\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL (Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery) (15:19)\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, I definitely agree with that statement from the Prime Minister. That has, without a doubt, been my experience since I\u2019ve been Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022420f72e8bcc84c869a366ff712af8e49\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221abac57bbbf153c7b2998fe9de6aa735\u0022\u003EHana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke\u003C/span\u003E: Will the $1 million marae emergency response fund be enough to cope with the increased frequency of climate-related distresses in Aotearoa?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002287d30b500e7213e5f0b7ebdb4f945798\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Well, it\u2019s money that we put immediately into Te Puni K\u014Dkiri because, especially over the last couple of months, you will have seen that we\u2019ve had lots of events to deal with. Local M\u0101ori and iwi have stood up, marae have been opened, and what happens is that they will have a stockpile of goods there to support the broader, wider community, but then they have to go through a big bureaucratic sort of process to replenish that. What we\u2019ve done is, with meetings with the Prime Minister, getting around the country, we have tried to remove some of that red tape to make it much easier for marae to replenish those stocks, and we also put an additional $1 million in there, which has actually gone out to most of the marae now that they\u2019ve been providing that support.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022420f72e8bcc84c869a366ff712af8e49\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022db60d37fdcdcef38c9e7b5970958c120\u0022\u003EHana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke\u003C/span\u003E: Does he stand by the Government\u2019s decision to cut $23\u00A0million from the Climate Emergency Response Fund that was intended to help hapori M\u0101ori deal with climate change adaptation and resilience?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002280a61c1f9ab95b283c6aa32abfb11700\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Well, that\u2019s not my portfolio area, but what I would say in terms of our readiness, our response, and our recovery as a country is that we\u2019ve made hundreds of millions of dollars of investment, particularly into marae in Tair\u0101whiti and the Hawke\u2019s Bay. We continue to have conversations with iwi leaders. We just had a very good session and meetings up at Waitangi on how we continue to (1) make sure that marae are in the right place and are not exposed to flooding, and (2) make sure they are supported and ready to be able to respond to these weather events.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022420f72e8bcc84c869a366ff712af8e49\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ed7bc233de55429523f3bb4364f2431a\u0022\u003EHana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke\u003C/span\u003E: Will he commit to ongoing funding to support marae in responding to emergencies and to improve climate change adaptation and resilience for hapori M\u0101ori?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022103925b6f9e64afea9688613b42f53f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f7b0cf7915f80a269c84aeb9da6bade1\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. Iwi are an extremely important partner for the Government, in readiness, response, and recovery and also in the reduction and the mitigation work. I could get into a lot of detail around that, because there\u2019s a significant amount of money and work being done around the country with local iwi on mitigation work. Of course, we\u2019ve got the emergency management legislation in front of the select committee. I want to acknowledge all the members in this House, from every party, who\u2019ve worked really hard to get that into good shape, because it\u2019s important for us as a country to have that as a launching pad in terms of how we deal with these emergencies. As part of that I actually codified and made sure that M\u0101ori have now got a seat at what we called our coordinating executive group, and that is the senior executive group that works together to make plans, and to be fully involved in how we respond to these weather events.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022532eefd103aa85af848b130ac6e06515\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00226df8cfab69e7bb1155adb4cf3c4b14b1\u0022\u003EEnvironment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b740f6c6401bf8f6644444a5fb751243\u0022\u003ELegislative Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022 data-id=\u0022eec391fcc0b4b2c9346ab8df65a093dc\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022eec391fcc0b4b2c9346ab8df65a093dc\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA (Minister of Conservation) (15:23)\u003C/span\u003E: on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for the Environment\u003C/span\u003E: I present a legislative statement on the Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022afcc3a6b49aec2e135e6c61c18ca689a\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the public website.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a6f610e20cf68d15207100bc4ed8be5f\u0022\u003EFirst Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022 data-id=\u0022ed8eea4ba6db256c301dac7d6761183b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ed8eea4ba6db256c301dac7d6761183b\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA (Minister of Conservation) (15:23)\u003C/span\u003E: on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for the Environment\u003C/span\u003E: I move, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill be now read a first time\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsTerm\u0022 style=\u0022font-style: italic\u0022\u003E. \u003C/span\u003EI nominate the Environment Committee to consider the bill. At the appropriate time, I intend to move that the bill be reported to the House by 24 April 2026.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis bill will allow for the creation of the new Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport, also known as MCERT. MCERT brings together the Ministry for the Environment; the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Te T\u016B\u0101papa Kura K\u0101inga; the Ministry of Transport Te Manat\u016B Waka; and local government functions of the Department of Internal Affairs into one unified agency\u2014one agency to rule them all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMCERT will combine key levers across central and local government, reducing duplication and complexity. It will provide joined-up advice to solve complex problems with a regional focus on deals and delivery, backed by a strong economic engine, high-quality data, and insights.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe primary purpose of MCERT is to unlock the potential of New Zealand cities and regions, boosting economic growth and productivity through lower transaction costs, a simpler and more responsive Public Service, and a more integrated planning and investment environment. Bring it on to Hamilton as soon as possible. This will support faster decisions and better outcomes across housing, transport, local government, and environmental systems. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe Government has ambitious and complex policy reforms under way, from housing growth and Local Water Done Well, to the national adaptation framework, but responsibility for progressing these reforms currently spans multiple agencies\u2014many agencies, many Ministers. For example, solving our housing crisis is impossible without fundamental planning reform, which is currently the responsibility of the Ministry for the Environment. It is also impossible without reform to infrastructure funding and financing, which is currently split across HUD, the Department of Internal Affairs, and Transport. The work is deeply connected, but the current system, being fragmented and uncoordinated, creates unnecessary cost delays, uncertainty, and inefficiency, and it is hampering investment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMCERT will make it easier for advice to be integrated and accountabilities to be clear. These connections will significantly strengthen implementation of our current mahi programme and help ensure we fully realise the benefits of our current reforms. The new ministry will bring layers of central and local government, their regulations, their services, their investments closer together to be more coherent, cohesive, and effective for all New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EKey benefits will include integrated housing, transport, environmental policy, planning, and investment for better outcomes; a single point of contact for stakeholders, for local government, for iwi M\u0101ori organisations and community groups; joined up solutions for complex challenges with a regional focus on deals and delivery; smarter planning and investment backed by better data and insights; and economic benefits through reduced transaction costs and coherent advice, unlocking greater value for future developments.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EChanges to the Act: the Environment Act 1986, established the Ministry for the Environment and must be amended before MCERT can be created. The Ministry for the Environment\u2019s functions include advising the Government on all aspects of environmental administration\u2014including in Northland, Mr McCallum. This covers climate, natural hazards, natural and physical resources, wider ecosystems, and the economic, social, and cultural factors that matter to current generations as well as future generations. These functions are not changing. They will remain in the Environment Act and will be an important part of the new ministry. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill simply transfers the functions from the Ministry for the Environment to the Secretary for the Environment, who will also be the chief executive of MCERT. As Secretary for the Environment, the chief executive will be responsible to the Minister for the Environment for the performance of these functions and comply in their obligation to have regards to the matters in section 17 of the Environment Act. Section 17 matters also remain unchanged.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThese changes will modernise the existing accountability framework to better align with that of other Government departments. It will also enable other instruments under the Public Service Act 2020 to be used to implement the Government\u2019s desired machinery of Government change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWhile MCERT brings immense potential to boost growth and productivity, I know that it still marks the disestablishment of the Ministry for the Environment after 40 years\u2014that\u2019s 80 percent of my life\u2014and it brings us one step closer to also disestablishing the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry of Transport on 1 July. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI want to thank all the public servants who have been working feverishly at these agencies for the benefit of all New Zealanders for up to four decades, and who will continue to work during this period of change. We are establishing a high-performing agency in MCERT to match our intention in our delivery of high-performing planning, infrastructure funding and financing, and, of course, local government systems. The Government wants to unlock the economic potential of New Zealand cities and regions, and alongside the environment, our society, communities, and culture, today we are one step closer to achieving that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228230f7940bc0d7a8ed1deeb2e2d54fc8\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the motion be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022154727523a59431ab210aea1cf707272\u0022 data-id=\u002202edfeaa371f5e39b612df93b90d7385\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022154727523a59431ab210aea1cf707272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002202edfeaa371f5e39b612df93b90d7385\u0022\u003EHon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour) (15:29)\u003C/span\u003E: This bill is an absolute disgrace. What it does is it speaks to a Government that continues its war on nature, doesn\u2019t care about environmental protections and continues to erode them. I\u2019m not terribly surprised, because it comes from the Minister for the Environment, who said quite clearly\u2014well, she has claimed\u2014that the balance has swung too far in favour of environmental protection; that from the Minister who is supposed to be protecting the environment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EDespite ongoing biodiversity loss, despite the fresh water degradation, despite the fact that that Minister has absolutely no evidence, once again, to base her statements on, she claims that we are protecting the environment too much, suddenly, and so we need now to stop protecting it, and that is what this bill is about. It fits with the National Government\u2019s track record on the environment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThey have been described as being radical, far-right, waging a war on nature and a war on climate policy. They have been described as the most anti-environmental Government since the 1980s, and I would agree. In fact, their track record on protecting the environment is so egregious that just today, I think it is, four major environmental organisations have announced that they will boycott the Bluegreen conference, which is a pretty big deal. It\u2019s been going since the 1990s, from memory. It was founded on principles of sustainability and science-based policy, all of which this Government is abdicating responsibility from. Those environmental organisations\u2014very credible, very well-regarded organisations\u2014have not taken this decision lightly, but have clearly said that they have predicated it on the fact that this Government has a terrible track record when it comes to fast tracking mining, including on conservation land, and I will come back to that in a minute; they have weakened safeguards for rivers, forests, and conservation land; and they haven\u2019t taken any meaningful action when it comes to climate action.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELet me just dwell briefly on that point around fast tracking mining on conservation land. I am, of course, talking about Denniston Plateau, which is listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act, and it is egregious. More than 12,400 people have signed a petition asking for this area to be protected. Denniston is rated by DOC\u2014the Department of Conservation\u2014scientists as one of the top 50 most ecologically valuable sites in Aotearoa New Zealand, that this is public conservation land that should be permanently protected for nature and not destroyed by a massive coalmine, which would dig up an area the equivalent of 1,700 rugby fields, destroying Denniston Plateau. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, Minister Potaka had the opportunity to reclassify this area and protect it, but, no, he didn\u2019t. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment wrote to him and talked about the fact that it merits reclassification using higher conservation status. The Minister\u2019s written back and said, \u201COh, well, no, I\u2019ve decided to decline that proposal. I don\u2019t think that it has any conservation value.\u201D, despite the fact that numerous scientists have said that it does and it should be protected.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThat is emblematic of this Government. They don\u2019t care. They don\u2019t care whether we fast track our way through all of our environmental protections. They don\u2019t care and they have stripped over $100 million of funding from the Department of Conservation. They have used the visitor levy, which they opposed, by the way, when Labour in Government brought it in\u2014they opposed it because they said that increased funding would just go to line Government coffers, and that is exactly what they are doing now with the increase of the visitor levy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EUltimately, this is down to the Luxon Government. They\u2019ve watered down protections on the Hauraki Gulf to allow commercial fishing in highly protected areas. This is a Government that is weak, that is out of touch, that doesn\u2019t understand the anxieties that New Zealanders are facing. Whether it comes to the need to address the cost of living and whether it comes to the need to better protect our environment, they don\u2019t care about either. This is not the way to improve infrastructure growth. This is a mega-ministry that nobody asked for and nobody wants, and all it will do is transfer the functions of the Ministry for the Environment, when it comes to urban planning; everything else to do with biodiversity protection, conservation, better fresh water will all be down the drain, thanks to this terrible Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002203a9a78995df41d999aa5550770febd3\u0022 data-id=\u0022de2648eac41b4fb30b6969de02b81458\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203a9a78995df41d999aa5550770febd3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022de2648eac41b4fb30b6969de02b81458\u0022\u003ELAN PHAM (Green) (15:34)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. What happened to caring about our environment? It used to be something that was genuinely accepted as something that Governments of all stripes did, and yet here we are. I\u2019m just getting increasingly frustrated, time after time, by this tagline that is attached to every comment that the Government makes and does where the environment suffers, where they\u2019re removing funding from our Government agencies, from our science departments, whether it be legislative change, and they say they\u2019re doing it whilst protecting the environment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI\u2019m so, so disappointed with that, alongside so many other New Zealanders across the country who we absolutely stand with in the face of such destructive decisions on a scale that we have not seen before. I particularly want to acknowledge all those communities across Aotearoa who are standing up against particularly fast-track projects but every single aspect of every decision that this Government is making that takes us backwards. In 2026, we are going backwards, and that is unacceptable if you can accept\u2014which I think all of us can, in this Chamber\u2014that we need to be good ancestors and we need to actually make decisions that set up our kids and grandkids into the future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, I want to acknowledge, as well, those leading environmental voices who are deciding that they\u2019ve had enough, because these are groups that are not political groups, they are standing up for te taiao\u2014our environment\u2014and they\u2019re not turning up to the National Party\u2019s fake environment conference this weekend; they\u2019re citing fast track, weakened river protections, proposed conservation sales, and inadequate climate action. You can\u2019t wreck the environment, host a conference about it, and expect people to just show up and put on a smile. This is really disappointing and hugely damaging.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI want to reflect that the Ministry for the Environment actually exists because, in 1986, New Zealanders decided that protecting our natural world needed a dedicated voice at the heart of Government. Since then, that voice has told us, time after time again, that the health of our environment is actually at risk, and, therefore, everything that is built upon that is also at risk. This is the stuff that the Government purports to just want to be so laser-focused on: our economy, our society; yet they\u2019re consistently undermining the very foundations of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBurying the Ministry for the Environment in a superministry designed to drive development, growth, and infrastructure is the clearest possible signal that this Government can give that the environment comes last. This is all from a Minister that claims that the balance has swung too far towards the environment, even as her own ministry reports, time after time again, that across oceans, across biodiversity, across water and air, our statistics are going backwards. It\u2019s like they just keep thinking, \u201CIf we just keep saying it, New Zealanders will believe us. If we just add an \u2018E\u2019 to MCERT, that stands for environment, that will mean something.\u201D It doesn\u2019t mean anything; it is meaningless. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWhat is so important for New Zealanders to know is that they do not have to put up with this; they can take a stand in the lead up to 7 November, when they can decide that they want environment to be the very core of how we centre caring for each other, caring for the environment, and we actually build our economy and society around that, not the other way round. This is an absolute stain on this Government\u2019s reputation. This Minister should be ashamed that under her legacy, 40 years of environmental progress, that is held in this ministry by the amazing people in it, is going down the drain.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022 data-id=\u0022dfd649f0f2c12a25d4d53b24bb6ba8c9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dfd649f0f2c12a25d4d53b24bb6ba8c9\u0022\u003ESIMON COURT (ACT) (15:39)\u003C/span\u003E: I intend to speak about the bill. Today is about fixing what matters: affordable homes, reliable roads, and a planning system that says \u201CYes\u201D, and not \u201CNo, and here\u2019s the bill.\u201D That\u2019s what the Government is here to fix. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud that ACT is part of this Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI welcome the disestablishment of the Ministry for the Environment in law, clearing the way to bring planning, housing, transport, and local government functions into one coherent Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport. This merger is not cosmetic; it\u2019s a practical layer in a wider growth programme. Some have suggested to me\u2014unlike the member Lan Pham\u2019s contention that environment might get lost\u2014that the environment might take over and poison the minds of people who want to deliver housing and transport. But I don\u2019t believe that. I trust that there\u2019s practical, sensible, constructive people at the Ministry for the Environment who will go on to enjoy working and contributing in this ministry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EReplacing the Resource Management Act (RMA) is one of the reasons we\u2019re doing this. That\u2019s so it\u2019s easier to say \u201Cyes\u201D to homes and easier to say \u201Cyes\u201D to the infrastructure that supports them. We\u2019re reforming infrastructure funding and financing, so projects are delivered, not just announced. We\u2019re refocusing local government on core services and value for money, so that reform sticks where it\u2019s applied in communities. Reforming the rules is only half the job. If form should follow function, then the right form also helps to deliver the right function. If housing policy sits in one silo, transport in another, environmental settings somewhere else, then you get delay, duplication, and drift.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EPulling these functions together rationalises advice. It aligns direction and gives councils and communities a clearer entry point. That\u2019s structural alignment to support growth. But this reform also points to a bigger issue. The centre of Government today looks like a spaghetti junction\u2014here\u2019s one that we prepared earlier: the Wellington Spaghetti Bowl. David Seymour put it plainly in his State of the Nation speech: 28 Ministers and two under-secretaries governing 41 departments. The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment alone answers to 23 Ministers. The Ministry for Regulation is still counting regulatory agencies. At the last count, I heard it was up to 250 agencies regulating 5.4 million New Zealanders. This is out of control. It\u2019s not clarity; it\u2019s complexity\u2014and complexity, as Kiwis know, is very, very expensive.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ECore Crown spending now consumes around a third of the economy. The tax takes around a third of GDP. Between 2017 and 2023, under a Labour-Greens Government, the core Public Service grew by more than 30 percent. More agencies, more officials, but not more houses, not better and faster roads, and certainly not cheaper infrastructure\u2014because when accountability is spread over overlapping institutions and reporting to multiple Ministers, no one owns delivery. We found that out with the previous Government because nothing got delivered, but they hired 30 percent more bureaucrats.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis merger is one step to untangle that issue\u2014sharpening responsibility, simplifying oversight\u2014and it will create a clearer institutional home for growth-focused reform. And it matters, because rationalising the form of Government means we can start to rationalise its size. Structure and size go hand in hand. That\u2019s exactly what the RMA reform seeks to correct: a system that drifted, that grew and grew and grew, and with it, a massive planning bureaucracy. Because if we want a planning system that says \u201Cyes\u201D more often, we need institutions designed for delivery, not obstruction. A clearer structure means we can right-size them. We can shrink the size of Government to only deliver the minimum viable core functions that are necessary. We can strip away all that bloated and duplicative regulation, and the steady expansion of the bureaucracy that\u2019s coincided with the steady expansion of intervention into the way people use their private property in every aspect of their lives.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis is just a signpost as to what\u2019s to come under a future Government that involves ACT. This reform is a good start. We\u2019re under way. It aligns institutions with policy intentions and signals the beginning of a much larger rationalisation task that ACT is ready to take on, because when Government already consumes a third of the national GDP, rationalisation is not optional; it\u2019s overdue\u2014it\u2019s vital. It\u2019s time to build\u2014let\u2019s get started.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225f6c5b1a97f24773a8aaeb3a8e3b0e7b\u0022 data-id=\u002230959df6d2ae53ca12b11b626ec3b9d1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225f6c5b1a97f24773a8aaeb3a8e3b0e7b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002230959df6d2ae53ca12b11b626ec3b9d1\u0022\u003EJAMIE ARBUCKLE (NZ First) (15:44)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise on behalf of New Zealand First to support the Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill in its first reading. This side of the House, we\u2019ve got a bold Government here with what we\u2019re doing. We\u2019ve got some vision of what this ministry can now look like, and by having a new Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport, today, this is the first part of establishing that new ministry. It\u2019s about being effective and it\u2019s about being efficient.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003ENew Zealand First, as well, we have campaigned through the 2023 campaign for a ministry for infrastructure, and this also shows us that this is possible and this is the right way to go about a unified ministry framework for infrastructure development in the future, as well. The select committee process will be really important here; we\u2019ll be able to hear different views. And yes, this ministry has been around since 1986, but, as I say, this is a bold Government. We\u2019ve got a vision. We\u2019re not scared to change the way we are moving forward. On that, I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022420f72e8bcc84c869a366ff712af8e49\u0022 data-id=\u002242915a8d97d933581da86e2f5a402d3c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022420f72e8bcc84c869a366ff712af8e49\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002242915a8d97d933581da86e2f5a402d3c\u0022\u003EHANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE (Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014Hauraki-Waikato) (15:46)\u003C/span\u003E: \u003Cspan lang=\u0022mi\u0022\u003ET\u0113n\u0101 r\u0101 koe, e te Pika, otir\u0101 t\u0113n\u0101 r\u0101 t\u0101tou, e te Whare. E t\u016B ana ahau ki te waha i ng\u0101 k\u014Drero i te rangi nei e p\u0101 ana ki t\u0113nei o ng\u0101 pire. Waihoki, tangihia r\u0101 ng\u0101 mate kua p\u0113hi nuitia e ng\u0101 haukeri, e ng\u0101 huarere kua taumahatia ki runga i a r\u0101tou. Pai m\u0101rire\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EGreetings, Madam Speaker, greetings to all in the House. I stand today to speak in regard to this bill. I also acknowledge those who have passed and those who were severely affected by the violent winds and weather that they were struck by. Peace and good will\u003C/span\u003E.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI rise on behalf of Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori to speak to the Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe context of this bill is that it seeks to disestablish the Ministry for the Environment. It folds into a mega-ministry alongside Transport, Housing, Urban Development, and parts of Internal Affairs. I think it\u2019s bizarre when now more than ever we need to prioritise the environment first and foremost. We cannot deny climate change, and when we look at the bigger picture and focus on climate change and the environment, we cannot deny the weather events that we\u2019ve seen across the country in the past month. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIn just the first weeks of 2026, there have been eight states of emergency that have been declared, matching the total for all of 2025. Recent storms across to Te Ika-a-M\u0101ui\u2014the North Island\u2014have brought record rainfall, flooding, evacuations, power outages, and loss of life. January storms alone caused multiple deaths from landslides and flooding, with record daily rainfall in Tauranga and Whitianga.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWhen we look at specifically the constituents that I represent\u2014young M\u0101ori\u2014who want to access and reach their pepeha, accessing and reaching pepeha has become a luxury. Our pepeha anchors us to our maunga, our awa, and our whenua. As Rawiri says sometimes, \u201CYou may not know your maunga, but your maunga knows you. You may not know your awa, but your awa knows you.\u201D But today, in 2026, you actually can\u2019t get to your pepeha. Maunga have had, of course, landslides. Awa and moana have waste-water contamination. All throughout the country, you can see the desecration of pepeha and the environment here today. From Te Tai Tokerau to Te Wai Pounamu, the whenua has slipped, rivers have risen, and the winds have torn through our communities. In the North, landslides have taken lives and homes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EInland Waikato\u2014my electorate of Hauraki-Waikato\u2014just recently, we have attended \u014Ctorohanga, where we\u2019ve seen marae come together, M\u0101ori and non-M\u0101ori, for communities that have been devastatingly impacted by severe weather events.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e89dfa1fc78130881d3fa0fe97dbfc05\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: Can I ask the member to come back to the disestablishment of the ministry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022420f72e8bcc84c869a366ff712af8e49\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d3fc14291ead9e3f649013497f946728\u0022\u003EHANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE\u003C/span\u003E: The disestablishment of the ministry\u2014yes, and that core purpose is environment, and these are the foundational, real, raw realities for communities across the country today, and the recent weather events that have desecrated the constituents that we represent. Across Manawat\u016B-Tararua, East Coast communities have scattered again because of evacuation. So that is why the Ministry for the Environment is now needed more than ever.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe legacy of environmental desecration under past legislation\u2014now, this is really important because there\u2019s context and there\u2019s a timeline of how we are now suffering with the outcomes of past legislation. When we think of the Government land policies and the Forests Act 1949, which converted vast areas of native forests into plantation forestry or farmland, water pollution and the Resource Management Act 1991 are all outcomes and the results of that past legislation. There has been a timeline of legislation, and between 80 percent and 90 percent of Aotearoa\u2019s wetlands have been lost since colonisation. We are going to suffer in the future when we are creating bills like the fast-track bill and the Resource Management Act, and disestablishing the Ministry for the Environment, because we\u2019re not prioritising the environment as much as we should be\u2014like with the recent weather events that we have seen. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe solution moving forward is this: 33 years ago, Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu travelled to Brazil as patron of the National M\u0101ori Congress, and she celebrated M\u0101ori as\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022774c8e536474126ff6f81149cb84e0e5\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: The member\u2019s time has expired.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002227d19573a8ba4d8283b17374978c8ea2\u0022 data-id=\u00229baa1162924e9c9264918641d7ad893a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227d19573a8ba4d8283b17374978c8ea2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229baa1162924e9c9264918641d7ad893a\u0022\u003EGRANT McCALLUM (National\u2014Northland) (15:51)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise to take a call on the Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill. I think what is being missed here is the fact that, actually, by merging all these ministries together, what we\u2019re going to be doing is helping put environmental issues at the heart of big decision-making. That is what is going to enable it to achieve, and that has been lost sight of on the other side.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EI\u2019d just like to respond, as co-chair of the Bluegreens movement, and say to those NGOs that decide not to attend this weekend that they\u2019re always welcome. You don\u2019t solve problems by walking away. I commend this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b13aa8ffbae34ee4972a7ab313f6b300\u0022 data-id=\u0022598ea8ca6f113aab6e44fbe42c5a24af\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b13aa8ffbae34ee4972a7ab313f6b300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022598ea8ca6f113aab6e44fbe42c5a24af\u0022\u003EHon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL (Labour) (15:52)\u003C/span\u003E: We oppose the dissolution of the Ministry for the Environment. We oppose this bill, and we oppose it for the very good reason that we need a separate Ministry for the Environment because the environment is so critical to us. Disestablishing it is a very powerful symbol, I think, of that Government\u2019s rejection of the environment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis merger is saying that the environment is not important. It says that what comes first is commercial considerations. What it does is it contributes, yet again, to the approach of that Government to the environment, where they regard the environment as a subset of, or even a hindrance to, the economy. It is exactly the other way around. The economy is a subset of the environment. If we do not have a flourishing environment, nothing else will flourish, and so I think it\u2019s really quite devastating that we are disestablishing the Ministry for the Environment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s really interesting, as my colleague Priyanca Radhakrishnan said before, that this is a Government that, frankly, has given up on the environment, and it has done so to the extent that the groups who used to give them a bit of shelter by participating in their fabled Bluegreens meeting have now all said that they can\u2019t do it any more. I just want to read what some people have said. Nicola Toki, who is the Chief Executive of Forest \u0026amp; Bird, has said that \u201CThe Bluegreens principles still hold: \u2026 science, incentives and a shared birthright to enjoy our natural places. But these principles mean nothing if they are cast aside when decisions get hard.\u201D, and that is what we are seeing from that Government\u2014the environment getting cast aside. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s quite astonishing what the Executive Director of Greenpeace here in New Zealand has said. He said, \u201CI last addressed the Bluegreens just before the 2023 election and I asked them to be conservative on climate change and nature\u2014to protect what we have. Instead, they have pursued a radical, far-right, war on nature and a war on climate policy. I continue to engage with politicians from across the spectrum, but I don\u2019t want my presence at the National Party\u2019s Bluegreens conference this year to give any succour to their war on nature. They need to change course.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EGary Taylor of the Environmental Defence Society, which is a really highly respected NGO in the environmental space in New Zealand, has pointed out that in terms of this war on nature, he has confirmed that they won\u2019t be attending the Bluegreens conference. At the 2024 forum, he called the coalition Government the most \u201Cradical anti-environment\u201D Government since the early 1980s. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EDisestablishing the Ministry for the Environment simply underlines the actions that this Government has taken that undermine the environment. From refusing to acknowledge the importance of the Denniston Plateau and backtracking on the water cleanliness standards to the extraordinary range of measures they have taken to undermine our response to climate change, this Government, at every step, has chosen to treat the environment as a mere subset of the economy. That approach will ruin us all. They\u2019ve done it in the meantime while \u201CWaldorf and Statler\u201D over there alternatively mumble and then bellow \u201CCoal, coal!\u201D and the popinjay of Epsom smirks away as they sell out our heritage, and that Government is led by Christopher Luxon, the man who has just bent right over to accommodate that astonishing anti-environmentalism. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIt is true that the National Party had a proud history with the Bluegreens. It is true that someone like Nick Smith really did try to give a focus to environmental policy. That Government, led by Christopher Luxon, has let its minor coalition parties push it around and has absolutely trashed the environment. When will their Minister of Conservation, when will their Minister for the Environment, and when will their Minister of Climate Change stand up? It seems never. What a wretched outcome this is. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b27d8609c612411686d517d0f9b09b28\u0022 data-id=\u00222a2a85c7a1d795515b998827a48952ad\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d8609c612411686d517d0f9b09b28\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222a2a85c7a1d795515b998827a48952ad\u0022\u003EDAVID MacLEOD (National\u2014New Plymouth) (15:57)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. In all the memos that I\u2019ve read about this bill, I don\u2019t see anywhere where it says that it\u2019s removing the functions of the Ministry for the Environment. In fact, I think it is strongly argued that this has got the intent of unlocking potential, improving efficiency, providing effectiveness, and also, potentially, removing some of the silo-potential behaviour between these entities that are ultimately going to be merging together.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EThis bill simply has to have an Act to disestablish the Ministry for the Environment. People may ask why there are not other bills with regard to the other ministries in question. Those other ministries, being the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Ministry of Transport, and also some Department of Internal Affairs functions with regard to local government\u2014those other entities can be disestablished via secondary legislation. They don\u2019t need a bill. The establishment of the Ministry for the Environment dictates that we need a bill to actually change that. That\u2019s what this bill simply does. I commend it to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022 data-id=\u00224c9220e93d3f9e4586ca6132174e1791\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224c9220e93d3f9e4586ca6132174e1791\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT (Labour) (15:58)\u003C/span\u003E: Kia ora, Madam Speaker. It is hard to listen and hear some of the comments from the other side of the House, and also to hear that from a former chair of the Taranaki Regional Council, who was focused, obviously, on the environment and on protecting the environment. Here we are, and, if we look at this, it\u2019s the optics of what is going on right now, and the fact is that we listen and look.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI remember being part of the Environment Committee last year as we went through the Fast-track Approvals Bill, which is now the Act, and there was just the challenge that that Act now holds. I remember watching 30,000 New Zealanders who opposed the Fast-track Approvals Bill march on Queen Street, and that was about the environment. It was about protecting what is sacred, and that is something that is known for us here in New Zealand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAs we look and as we read, and as we look at this Government creating this new ministry, I guess we can reflect back to the previous National Government in their last term and we think about the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the issues that that has created. It\u2019s done some potentially good things, but it has also become this superministry that things get quite easily lost in. I think that that is the concern that I have when we look at this piece of legislation. It\u2019s the fact that the environment gets swallowed up into a large ministry\u2014it gets swallowed up and it becomes an afterthought. It becomes something that we don\u2019t consider as much as we should. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe are the people of New Zealand, where we champion and celebrate the land. We champion, around the world, our mountains and our rivers and our oceans. We have to make sure that we protect that, because that is \u201CBrand New Zealand\u201D, but also that is our future\u2014it is for future generations. It is not only life, but it is also the wellbeing and building of our economy. As we know, tourism is our second-highest income earner in this country, and I know it will be that again. That\u2019s why we need to protect and make sure we do everything we can to make sure that our environment is one of the first thoughts we have, not an afterthought disappearing into a ministry. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAs I was reflecting and wondering why this was so necessary\u2014wondering why it needs to be disestablished and why this other ministry needs to be created\u2014I did have a look, and there\u2019s been some mention of the Bluegreens, but I also looked at the previous election and the promises that were made by the National Party in their Blueprint for a Better Environment. Nowhere in that does it talk about disestablishing the Ministry for the Environment. It talks about protecting biodiversity; it talks about protecting our waterways; it talks about other things in terms of making sure that we do what is right by our environment, in that document. But here we are yet again: another piece of legislation this Government is bringing to this House that is saying no to our environment\u2014that is saying it doesn\u2019t really matter. Of course we believe in progress; of course we believe in building more houses; of course making sure our infrastructure is fit for the 21\u003Csup\u003Est\u003C/sup\u003E century, but we can do that with the environment and by making sure that we protect it. We need to make sure that we don\u2019t just allow it to become an afterthought and to disappear into the back pages of a new ministry. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAs we listen to different stakeholders and those who engage with us on a regular basis, they are concerned about what this means. They are concerned about what this means for the loss of our wetlands, the loss of creatures and critters\u2014the loss of Freddy\u2014in terms of what could happen and ensuring they are protected for future generations, because once they\u2019re gone, they never come back. That\u2019s what we need to remember. My challenge to the Government\u2014my challenge to the National Party\u2014is to look at your Blueprint for a Better Environment and what you promised at the last election and see whether that matches up with this piece of legislation and what you\u2019re wanting to do. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe will oppose this bill. We will stand with New Zealanders around the country, who will march on Queen Street like they did on fast track, who will send submissions, who will do everything they can to make sure that the Ministry for the Environment remains.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022784f4e929aed4ea6a05d1a10add6eccb\u0022 data-id=\u0022bcc65b9b75f2fb4dc1a9af236e2ea638\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022784f4e929aed4ea6a05d1a10add6eccb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bcc65b9b75f2fb4dc1a9af236e2ea638\u0022\u003ERYAN HAMILTON (National\u2014Hamilton East) (16:03)\u003C/span\u003E: After listening to some of the masters of misdirection, it\u2019s good to get back to the facts. They say we don\u2019t care about the environment, but actually we do care; that\u2019s why we\u2019re making this front and centre of a combined ministry. We acknowledge the connectedness and the inseparability of economic outcomes and environmental protections. This is a union of two flames. I commend it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill be now read a first time\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003EAyes 68\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000396\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 id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003ENoes 54\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 14; Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 4; Ferris; Kapa-Kingi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBill read a first time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00223b66617b8ecdb375bc45d9241d74b4a2\u0022\u003EReferral to Select Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022 data-id=\u0022a67dfa74ac0b5087330e63eb955a3161\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a67dfa74ac0b5087330e63eb955a3161\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh) (16:04)\u003C/span\u003E: The question is, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill be considered by the Environment Committee\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003EBill referred to the Environment Committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00224d92223b371dde63d5731c763df681d9\u0022\u003EInstruction to Select Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022 data-id=\u00228ee0d96e0317b6d8f9dd0db305402d57\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228ee0d96e0317b6d8f9dd0db305402d57\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA (Minister of Conservation) (16:05)\u003C/span\u003E: I move, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill be reported to the House by 24 April 2026\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220c8cdef03b2425ad4ef427515fb9cc18\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003E:\u003C/span\u003E The question is that the motion be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ead3db64c18745bb505a1019e013b2b2\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Madam Speaker. My understanding, and the convention of this House, is that when there is a shortened time frame and a Minister shares it, there always has to be an explanation for why that is being done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b811881452a94f9a2641f838000c6235\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: It may be convention and it may be helpful to understand the rationale for the short report back, but it\u2019s not compulsory that the Minister does deliver it. What it does do is provide an opportunity\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229f7b886d963334ac8073386283f478aa\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Opens it wide up.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002237c19bddb867bd78124c036556b27137\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: Exactly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b13aa8ffbae34ee4972a7ab313f6b300\u0022 data-id=\u002258a12552a1871961621137a76c591eae\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b13aa8ffbae34ee4972a7ab313f6b300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002258a12552a1871961621137a76c591eae\u0022\u003EHon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL (Labour) (16:06)\u003C/span\u003E: I move, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat \u201C24 April\u201D be replaced by \u201C16 July 2026\u201D\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe Minister speaking just then did not give any justification as to why there should be a shortened report back on this particular bill. That means that the Government has not stated its reasons, and it leaves this debate wide, wide open as to the issues that are associated with having such a shortened report-back period; the general issues, but also the specific issues to do with the Ministry for the Environment; and the issues that are canvassed in the departmental disclosure statement, which was tabled along with the bill at some stage\u2014I\u2019ll just have to see if I can find my copy of it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s start with the very broad issue. This is yet another bill being put through by this Government with a very, very short report-back period. We\u2019ve seen a number of these during the course of this Government, and, frankly, it\u2019s shameful\u2014and it\u2019s shameful for a number of reasons. The point of the select committee process is to give the committee plenty of time to examine the ins and outs of the bill, to pick up any issues that might require a fix in the bill itself, and to examine the implications of what\u2019s being done. There\u2019s a whole lot of this that\u2019s viable in this particular bill. For example, we know from experience that within the other mega-ministry, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), it can be comparatively hard to understand the Votes and where funding is being allocated within MBIE and how funding can be transferred from one part of MBIE to another, what projects are being supported at what time, and so on\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002232af2b1ec6a4f1b8752b4ebc34b5f4f0\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. Exactly on what basis is this debate happening? I mean, all the matters she\u2019s raising now could have been raised at the first reading, which we\u2019ve just attended to. Now she\u2019s moved a change of motion, and she wants to have the whole debate all over again, reciting all the facts that belonged to the last debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022da1987a8c3f6309c90bc1f444d717d81\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Learn the rules.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225d9663f11e6d708e2c6b2b1c6b4c2890\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: How can she\u2014I know the rules, that\u2019s why I\u2019m raising it. You don\u2019t know\u2014adi\u00F3s. You\u2019ve never known the rules.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229a41be47d0c3cac400a47cc5f38041b3\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: For the member\u2019s information, there are 10-minute\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222b1655143b736896b70dcd2bb3e7e40d\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Read the rules.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227de0c777df0066bbda673f46c2d825c2\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m speaking to the point of order. There are 10-minute speeches allocated in response to the shortened report  back, and members are exercising that right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b13aa8ffbae34ee4972a7ab313f6b300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab1d81b65fb31437dcf22251048f2ace\u0022\u003EHon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL\u003C/span\u003E: Just to explain to some of the more senior members, given that the Minister introducing the bill didn\u2019t give a reason as to why there should be a shortened report-back period, that does mean that this particular debate can canvass a range of issues. I have chosen to start with the fact that shortened report-back periods are a problem in themselves. There are other issues that we will canvass as we go through this debate. I just wanted to help the senior members of the House out there.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ECarrying on with this: there\u2019s a particular range of issues that can be canvassed around the funding structures within this new mega-ministry. We have seen some of the examples from MBIE as to what can go on. We want to be sure how funding is going to be structured within the new\u2014what\u2019s it called\u2014\u201CMCERT\u201D, which is some cunning acronym for \u201CMinistry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport\u201D. That\u2019s the new MCERT. We do want to understand how funding is going to be allocated amongst each of those areas and who is going to be responsible for each portion of the Vote. We particularly want to be clear on that with respect to ensuring that the environment gets its proper allocation and that it doesn\u2019t just get subsumed under the other structures. So that\u2019s the first reason why, as members of Parliament who are required to scrutinise the executive, we want to have a good select committee period so that we can examine that issue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe second reason why shortened report-back periods are deeply problematic is that they shorten the time in which the public can have their say on what should be going on. Now, in this case, obviously there will be members of the public who want to put a submission in, but given that the Minister has proposed only a couple of months for the report-back period, that will limit the amount of time that the select committee can spend listening to the concerns of the citizens of New Zealand about the disestablishment of the Ministry for the Environment. Ordinarily, a person would make a submission, they would request to be heard, and they would expect to be heard\u2014that\u2019s the ordinary course of events. The shortened report-back period means that there is much less time available for that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThat goes for individuals, but there\u2019s also a huge issue around some of the non-government organisations, the NGOs, that operate in the climate space: people who have serious mana, who have really serious standing in talking about the environment in New Zealand\u2014people like the Environmental Defence Society, like the World Wildlife Fund, like Greenpeace, like Forest \u0026amp; Bird, like Lawyers for Climate Action, like Kiwis in Climate. There is a whole range of environmental organisations and climate organisations who will want to have their say on this disestablishment of the Ministry for the Environment. They will want to be sure, again, that they have the capacity to examine the funding structures in this proposed new environment. They will want to be sure that some of the issues that are critical to us will be given their due regard by this new ministry once we lose the Ministry for the Environment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s a whole lot of those organisations who, presumably, will now have to put together a submission on a very tight time frame. Ordinarily, you would have submissions open for six weeks on a bill to give people plenty of time to write their submissions and get them in, but if we\u2019ve only got about a two-month report-back period, that\u2019s going to be a much shorter time to get submissions in. The chair of the Environment Committee will only be able to open submissions for a short time. You know, the committee had its meeting this morning and ordinarily it would have had the bill referred to it, the committee would have decided on a period for which submissions would be open, and then they would have got to work. Usually, the chair, on their own cognisance, can put out a call for submissions and then have that ratified at the next meeting of that particular committee. Now, that\u2019s going to be problematic for the chair of the Environment Committee because there was a meeting of that committee this morning and the next one is not going to be until the week after next\u2014two weeks into the report back for this particular bill\u2014so there\u2019s going to be quite a lot of pressure on that chair to make a good decision about how long they are going to open the submissions period for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAll I can do is urge the chair of that committee\u2014who I know runs a good committee; I\u2019ve got no problems with that particular chair: she runs a good committee and she gives us plenty of say in it\u2014to make sure that she consults with the Opposition before she opens up that report-back period. I think an important part of ensuring that there is a good and effective select committee process happening is going to be to at least look at that period for which submissions will be open, to consider what might be appropriate, to bear in mind that she cannot get a decision from that committee until the committee meeting two weeks from now as to whether or not they endorse her report-back period, and she can consult with the Opposition\u2014but there\u2019s a whole lot of technicalities that need to be carried out there in order to get that democratic process under way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELook, the third problem with having a shortened report-back period for a select committee is that the officials need to get to work on this as well. Now, I am anticipating that, as with many other select committee processes and many other pieces of legislation that this Government has forced through this House, there could well be a significant number of public submissions to this particular bill. We have in the last 18 months or so, in some cases, seen over 100,000 submissions on a bill. Now, I don\u2019t think we\u2019re going to get that level of submissions on this particular bill, but I do think that there could be a significant number of submissions. There is a great environmental consciousness in New Zealand. New Zealanders as a whole actually value and care for their environment. You know, it turns out that the extent to which most of us can identify our native birds would qualify all of us as birders in some other countries. We actually care about where we live. The same thing goes for our indigenous trees: we love them and we value them. People do care about the environment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s a whole set of issues around water quality in Canterbury. I bet you those people are going to want to submit on this bill too, and I know that there are masses of citizens who are concerned about climate. There\u2019s going to be a whole lot of submissions that are going to come in from people and it\u2019s going to take time for the clerks of the committee to process those submissions. These are all reasons as to why we should not have a shortened report-back process. You know, the Minister left it wide open. There are a whole lot of issues to canvas. I haven\u2019t even started on looking at the departmental disclosure statement yet. There\u2019s a whole lot of stuff we will want to cover there. We cannot support this shortened report-back period. It is a nonsense.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022154727523a59431ab210aea1cf707272\u0022 data-id=\u0022b9b5f20839922e7f42d1d216bd3c146a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022154727523a59431ab210aea1cf707272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b9b5f20839922e7f42d1d216bd3c146a\u0022\u003EHon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour) (16:17)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat \u201C24 April\u201D be replaced by \u201C18 June 2026\u201D\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAs my colleague the Hon Dr Deborah Russell has pointed out, this Government has given us no rationale for shortening the report-back period of this bill. This is a bill that will come to the Environment Committee, of which I am a permanent member. We sat the whole morning this morning. We went back and forth trying to figure out how we were going to fit in 45.5 hours of submissions to the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill. That committee is currently considering two of the most complex bills before this House. It is pretty much going to take up all of our time for a good two months or so to consider those bills. They are incredibly technical. We\u2019ve spent already numerous hours just hearing from officials on the technicalities of those bills and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) as an adviser to that committee as well\u2014and now we get landed with this. We\u2019re already grappling with how to fit in submissions on just those two bills, let alone all the rest that is before that select committee and is on the select committee\u2019s work plan, but we now have this as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EJust before I get into the matter of why we need a longer report-back period, which of course is the substance of my amendment, I will also just draw the attention of the House to what happened within the same select committee when we were considering the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill, where the report-back period was truncated\u2014without discussing it, without debating it in this House\u2014to 10 days. Despite that, from memory, we got about over 2,500 submissions, but pretty much every submitter who came before the Environment Committee made the point, in great detail, that their submission was rushed because of the decisions and the time frame of this Government. I would have thought, given they\u2019ve already done this once before\u2014and we\u2019ve had a number of people come before the select committee and raise concerns about the implications of that on the quality of their submissions\u2014that this Government would at least have given us the courtesy of telling us why there was a need to rush this so much. A rushed process when it comes to lawmaking weakens the checks and balances that this House has over the quality of lawmaking, and that is not a good way to make legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIt also speaks to an overarching attitude by this Government that Ministers always know best, that we don\u2019t need the processes of democracy, that we don\u2019t need the debate in this House, and that we don\u2019t need to hear from submitters\u2014many of whom have much more expertise, experience, and knowledge than the Ministers in charge of these pieces of legislation. The arrogance to shorten the report-back period such that we won\u2019t be able to hear from many of them, given already the commitments that the Environment Committee has, is incredibly disheartening, frankly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWhat does the select committee need to do? We need to recommend whether the bill be passed, we need to consider the bill in its entirety and to look at the implications of the changes that are being proposed through this legislation. While it may be, in the number of pages, a relatively short piece of legislation, it is significant. Now, many members on this side of the House have alluded to the optics here. The very fact that a Government would bring a bill to disestablish the Ministry for the Environment (MFE) speaks volumes for what this Government thinks of the environment and their role when it comes to strengthening environmental protections.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe optics aside\u2014which, of course, I agree with\u2014there is the reality of what this bill will actually lead to. Many will say that it is actually leading to the fast tracking of environmental degradation. I will lay out why this is an issue and why a shortened report-back period, that we are debating here today in this referral motion, is a problem. I looked at the Environment Act 1986, which, of course is the piece of legislation that led to the establishment of this ministry through statute, which is not a terribly common occurrence. The whole rationale, back in 1986, for this was the fact that environmental responsibility was scattered across departments and could be reorganised at the drop of a hat, at any time, by Cabinet without the scrutiny of Parliament. There was a view, at the time, that environmental management requires long-term continuity across Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ETo that point, we\u2019ve had the PCE appear before the Environment Committee and speak to numerous pieces of work that he has instigated\u2014research projects that he has produced\u2014that speak to exactly this: the requirement for Governments to look at the long-term continuity of environmental management and stewardship for us to be able to look across our Government departments on the spend that leads to outcomes that we would have thought both sides of this House would have wanted to achieve, which are better protections for the environment. Going right back to the point that Dr Deborah Russell made earlier, that the environment is not a nice-to-have, it should not be something that, if it\u2019s convenient and expedient, we will look after. This whole narrative of economy versus the environment is such a false narrative. It is a false dichotomy because without the health and wellbeing of the environment, we don\u2019t have the health and wellbeing of our economy or our people. It is as important as the other two components, and we\u2019re not seeing that in the legislation that this Government has brought before the House today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOur concern, on this side of the House, is that the focus will just be on urban development when the Ministry for the Environment is subsumed into a much larger mega-ministry. That is already what we\u2019re seeing, and I\u2019ve alluded to that in the more fulsome contribution that I made earlier. We\u2019ve seen a track record of that happening. This just seems to be the straw that breaks the camel\u2019s back, or the nail in the coffin, because, now, it can be quietly dropped altogether.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIf we\u2019re here, on this side, debating why a shortened report back is detrimental and is damaging and why the whole substance of this bill is potentially detrimental, we would have thought that if a Government actually cared about this, we would have at least heard a rationale or a justification for the shortened report-back period, but we haven\u2019t even had the courtesy of that from this Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIf they can so quietly and so quickly disestablish something that was established through statute, then it gives us absolutely no confidence that the entire environmental focus of the ministry, that will be now subsumed into this mega-ministry, won\u2019t be dropped, and dropped quietly, because we won\u2019t even need to come back to this House to debate that at that point in time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, here\u2019s why a shortened report back is worrying. MFE has an incredibly important role when it comes to monitoring the environment. It was set up to monitor both the natural and built environments. Now, this new mega-Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) has quite a shift of focus to just the built environment, so there is a glaring concern\u2014which, I suspect, will be obvious to anyone who wishes to submit on this bill\u2014that the natural environment, and conservation that goes hand in hand with it, will just be dropped. It also produces a state of the environment report where MFE has the responsibility to monitor waterways, set regulations to prevent pollution, work on policy to prevent waste, and lead climate work. There are biodiversity functions that sit within MFE and not the Department of Conservation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, I know what members opposite would say if they cared to take a call on this motion. They would say that the bill sets out the fact that all of these functions will just be a lift and shift from MFE into the new MCERT. That\u2019s what they say, but there\u2019s a lot that they\u2019ve said that hasn\u2019t actually transpired, and so I will point to that. I will point to all of the science that tells us that creating another mega-ministry with numerous Ministers that it reports to and that focuses purely on urban development means that there is a very real and very important risk that the natural environment will be deprioritised.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, with such a shortened report-back period, the Environment Committee will not have enough time to scrutinise this. We won\u2019t even have time to hear proper submissions from submitters. It\u2019s an absolute joke that there\u2019s such a short report-back period here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022550503ce17ff1344048546069edfcd41\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: They just don\u2019t care.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022154727523a59431ab210aea1cf707272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ce53fff80bf5e76176dab64d9f59745e\u0022\u003EHon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN\u003C/span\u003E: Clearly, that\u2019s right. Glen Bennett says that they don\u2019t seem to care, and that\u2019s exactly what it looks like\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002212293cbb4697064ad31a1a7980df9c27\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: The member\u2019s time has expired. Members, can I just come back to the amendment moved by the Hon Dr Deborah Russell, which is the question before the House and for which we are having this debate. The question, members, before the House for debate is that the amendment be agreed to. The amendment is now debatable together with the motion. We are debating the amendment to the motion by the Hon Dr Deborah Russell.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228abe7cfeba415d451b0ce086d589c24c\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. Madam Speaker. We\u2019ve heard two speeches on this matter not confined to the amendment before the House but on everything but the amendment, under the guise of the amendment. Thank heavens you\u2019ve brought them back to be specific about what this debate is about.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002235984f61527b4059ae9284acf3c4076b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229c5257504b572a844534d74ee25a805b\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: Well, Mr Peters, if you hadn\u2019t interrupted me, that was the next point I was going to raise. I have in front of me Standing Order 298(3), which does explain that the debate \u201Cmay not extend to the principles, objects, or provisions of the bill to which the motion relates.\u201D It is simply to the shortened report back and, in this case, the amendment to that date.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229340db0d6051493982fc3db81fee975a\u0022 data-id=\u00225d1b615ff9c5fb1ec1744aa32f7f3352\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229340db0d6051493982fc3db81fee975a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225d1b615ff9c5fb1ec1744aa32f7f3352\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Co-Leader\u2014Green) (16:28)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. If I may speak to that amendment in the name of the Hon Dr Deborah Russell, that amendment, of course, extending, or at least seeking to extend, the time that this Minister laid a surprise on the House with by announcing that this Government would allow the people of this country, the regular hard-working New Zealanders who they so frequently like to cite, only two months to engage with their legislation to disestablish the Ministry for the Environment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOn exactly the same week that we have, once again, seen more of our country underwater in a supposed one-in-100-year extreme weather event, off the back of a similar event happening only just a few weeks ago, this is the priority of this Government: to literally disestablish the Ministry for the Environment but, worse than that, to allow the public of this country just two months to engage with that legislation. I would like to engage particularly with that amendment, from the Hon Dr Deborah Russell, to extend that select committee time because of how important democracy is when it comes to considering legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to run through a few of the rationales as to why we oppose the Government\u2019s shortened select committee and support the amended motion from the Hon Dr Deborah Russell. First, in doing so, I\u2019d actually like to respond to some of the points raised by one of the right honourable co - Deputy Prime Ministers, in which he said that this debate was, and I quote, \u201Ca waste of time\u201D\u2014this debate, on this referral motion, whereby the Government is seeking to truncate the ability of New Zealanders to engage in legislation which, fundamentally, transforms the landscape and the power of our environment in our legislative ecosystem.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIn fact, to that co - Deputy Prime Minister, this is, really, the only time that we are being given to meaningfully scrutinise this proposal from the Government to truncate that process but also this legislation, on the basis that the Government is rushing this through as quickly as it possibly can. So it is, in fact, really important that we tease out the rationale, by which we are opposed to that truncated process, and support the extension as put forward by the Hon Dr Deborah Russell. More so than that, we implore members of the Government to stand up and to take a call and to make clear why they believe that we should cut New Zealanders off from their democratic right, the status quo that sees their ability to participate in the legislation process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe had no idea that this bill was coming until very recently\u2014New Zealanders had no idea that this bill was coming until very recently\u2014and we didn\u2019t know until just now, when the Minister announced that he would truncate the select committee process to two months, that that was going to happen either. Not only have we all been blindsided by a piece of legislation to fundamentally transform the ecosystem, the legislative framework that cares for and protects our environment in this country, but we also now have been completely blindsided by the inability for New Zealanders to participate through the usually expected legislative process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI wonder why the Government would oppose the ability of regular New Zealanders engaging and having their say on this piece of legislation. So frequently they make clear their disdain for democracy. We have literally heard from the mouths of Ministers in this Government that they want to seek to concentrate power and decision making for fast tracking projects to themselves. They have no interest in checks and balances nor in democracy, nor in the fact that tens of thousands of New Zealanders mobilised down Queen Street to submit against these nasty, awful, anti-environment pieces of legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOf course, this also sits on the backdrop of the reality that we all in this House well know, which is that we are already among the fastest lawmakers in the West. That so frequently means that mistakes end up being made in the legislative process. Actually, there are ample examples of those mistakes in the rushed process that this Government decides to deploy time and time again as it rolls out legislation\u2014particularly the legislation to attack and undermine and remove protections from our environment, the very content of the legislation which they\u2019re now trying to push through in this truncated time frame.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOn top of all of that, we have a situation where we have heard from Government MPs throughout this debate. They have cited the evidence\u2014the evidence\u2014the official advice\u2014official advice\u2014yet they\u2019re now trying to truncate the ability for more evidence and more official advice to come before the select committee and the proper consideration of and scrutinising of this legislation. So the question for the Government really has to be: what are they so afraid of? Well, we have no idea, because they\u2019re yet to articulate any reason whatsoever for truncating this process, which leaves us with the conclusion that, really, once again, all we\u2019re seeing is a naked disdain for the participation of regular New Zealanders in the typical select committee process and the typical legislative consideration.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThere has been absolutely no reason given for why we should truncate the select committee process. In fact, we heard from some Government MPs in the debate on this legislation, which is very much related to the scrutiny necessary at select committee. They ridiculed ENGOs for deciding not to turn up to their Bluegreens conference to greenwash their Bluegreens conference this weekend in the midst of this Government\u2019s relentless attack on nature. They ridiculed those very ENGOs\u2014those environmental non-government organisations\u2014on the basis that they\u2019re walking away from the table.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022600c9c1ed0dd44f9a841377c3834e829\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. Madam Speaker, this latest diatribe, the part we\u2019ve heard for the last 50 seconds, is not related at all to the amendment. It\u2019s going straight back to the debate we had prior to that, and that\u2019s when she should have given it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ba825bfdf703836e0e4d9d44ede56c06\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, I believe that the member was giving reasoning for her comments, but we will come back to the date. The member\u2019s point is now well made.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229340db0d6051493982fc3db81fee975a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a79d42950fa52a5872e64ad6e8d45910\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK\u003C/span\u003E: The point that I was making, if I may, Madam Speaker, is that the disdain that this Government has showed for ENGOs walking away, supposedly, from the table is exactly the kind of logic and exactly the kind of disdain that they are showing for New Zealanders in their move to truncate the select committee process and their move to disable New Zealanders from participating in typical legislative scrutiny and from putting in their submissions to the select committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EI\u2019d also make the point to the co - Deputy Prime Minister that hard-working New Zealanders are not able to organise themselves to this Government\u2019s fast-tracked process for all of the legislation that they are seeking to ram through to undermine the wellbeing of people and planet. For all of that talk of hard-working New Zealanders, in fact it is incredibly difficult for those who may be having to work multiple jobs, by virtue of this Government\u2019s mismanagement of the economy, to organise themselves to make time at the drop of a hat to be at a select committee with that truncated process, which disallows for flexibility\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aa9ed787c0c0182490e846e30ec50d01\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s got worse!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229340db0d6051493982fc3db81fee975a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022653b81ec0adbc162a533f59891384141\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014in turning up to that very select committee process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe point that I am getting at here\u2014and I implore, actually, the co - Deputy Prime Minister to get up and to argue for the rationale for truncating the select committee process. What we have so far and right now is only the ability for the Opposition to fill that gap and to offer potential rationalisations. If I may, unfortunately, all of them are profoundly disdainful of democracy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOnce again, we support the amendment from the Hon Dr Deborah Russell to extend the time frame by which New Zealanders are able to organise themselves, to educate themselves, to inform each other, and, in turn, to make submissions to the select committee, which is a critical part of democracy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022 data-id=\u002207fc6278f603e7f40fb069f4172e9129\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002207fc6278f603e7f40fb069f4172e9129\u0022\u003EHon SCOTT SIMPSON (Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs) (16:37)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The report-back date of 24 April is needed because the environment amendment bill needs to pass and receive Royal assent before 30 June 2026 to transfer the functions of the Ministry for the Environment (MFE) to the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) on 1 July 2026. This is a short bill, and no material changes are being proposed to MFE\u2019s existing functions. This is a minor and technical bill to transfer functions from the Ministry for the Environment to the Secretary for the Environment, who will also be the chief executive of MCERT.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220ff738a0066947e26378571e0caad391\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m going to call Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan, but we\u2019ve now had some reasoning from the Government, and so I want people to focus clearly on Deborah Russell\u2019s amendment, which has been put forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022 data-id=\u002296dce7c8081460e0da66b6e07b233ccf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002296dce7c8081460e0da66b6e07b233ccf\u0022\u003EDr LAWRENCE XU-NAN (Green) (16:38)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move that the motion be amended to delete the words \u201C195\u201D and \u201Cmeetings outside Wellington area during sitting\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EI will justify that in a short while, but, first of all, I do want to support the Hon Dr Deborah Russell\u2019s amendment of 16 July, also noting what the Hon Scott Simpson\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022406b89be7cb7a6ee734f1d05004892ce\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve been advised that the amendment isn\u2019t in order because the motion that we\u2019re talking to doesn\u2019t contain those words, OK?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002275060210b3ee8b181749d12ac19865dd\u0022\u003EDr LAWRENCE XU-NAN\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, OK, sure.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fb89bc018a573be12b00bc06b1ed6e67\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225042661304da41a0bebf0a7869d77f57\u0022\u003EDr LAWRENCE XU-NAN\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. In terms of the support to the Hon Dr Deborah Russell\u2019s amendment, which is 16 July\u2014and I also want to thank the Hon Scott Simpson\u2019s submission and contribution as well on the rationale of why that should be 30 June. I do think that maybe, potentially. a better amendment to be moved would be that \u201CI move that the motion be amended to replace \u201824th April 2026\u2019 to the \u201824th of June 2026\u2019.\u201D, and that way we\u2019re also still within the timeline that the Minister has just previously clarified.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, the reason for that is\u2014there are a couple of reasons. Number one is, Madam Speaker, as you would know, that the standard submission process for select committees is six months. From a select committee perspective, that is a submission period of six weeks. When we are looking at a submission period or a select committee process of two months, we\u2019re looking at, at most, a submission period of two weeks, and that\u2019s simply not enough.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOne of the previous speakers\u2014the Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u2014has already expressed about the kind of load that is currently in front of the Environment Committee. I think if this is the case, we should be able to extend that or potentially allow for the fact that maybe another select committee is better to hear on this particular bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, Madam Speaker, you also mentioned before\u2014and that is actually a cause of concern\u2014that Standing Order 195 has not been waived from the referral motion, which is, I guess, the standard drafting of a referral motion of this nature, which is the waiving of Standing Orders 193, 195, and 196, which then also means that when we are looking at this particular bill, there\u2019s no ability to sit on some of those aspects as well, and Madam Speaker, you may have other thoughts on that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo I think that is a concern if we\u2019re looking at a select committee with a heavy workload\u2014a truncated submission process as well as the inability for the select committee to actually perform some of the functions in accordance with Standing Orders 193, 195, and 196, without having to get leave from the Business Committee, as stated.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI think it\u2019s also important to note that when we are looking at what the previous speaker, the Green Party co-leader Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick, mentioned in terms of truncated process, we are also more likely to make mistakes. That is an important point to mention when we\u2019re looking at any sort of truncated select committee process, because this is something that the Attorney-General in previous years has warned us against doing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo within that two months, it\u2019s also important for us to consider what the workload is, not only in terms of the members who will be participating in the select committee but also the officials\u2019 ability to bring information and also bring questions from the members of the select committee and find those kinds of responses at select committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI also think, in this case, when you\u2019re looking at the bill specifically, the bill has mentioned that there is a departmental disclosure statement, but no part of this bill mentions a regulatory impact statement. So even though we have a truncated select committee stage, we\u2019re already kind of on the back foot to begin with, having a lack of information on what is to be expected of this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI also implore, actually, other members of this House to have a close look at this bill, and potentially, particularly, as we all know, in the legislative environment of Aotearoa, we are not looking at any particular bill in isolation, but our legislation\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a80b740b352786c3aa7ea8fbfc0f68e1\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. He\u2019s required to talk about the motion of the extension of time, but now he\u2019s talking about the quality of the bill and a whole lot of other things, and he should have been stopped in his tracks. This debate\u2019s going on and on, possibly 15, 30 minutes too long, because people have not stuck to the motion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e1fff0fde64991b476af121bab89b676\u0022\u003EDr LAWRENCE XU-NAN\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to that point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a7ae2750a5fa15f473e7905e802323a3\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Look, the member has been talking about the time, and a reminder that we\u2019re speaking to the Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u2019s amendment, which is related to the time, but it is a very narrow debate. I have heard the member speak to the time but I just want to remind the whole House that that is the purpose of the exercise for this debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227ae3cf5941b990579cb5c35bc572c61d\u0022\u003EHon Dr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. Just a clarification, if I may, because when the referral motion was made, no reasons were given, and as you\u2019ll be fully aware, a Minister has now come to the House and given some reasons for the shortened referral period. Now, I accept that the motion on the Table is the amended motion, but presumably there will be space in this debate, either now or at a later time, to respond to the Minister\u2019s reasons that have now been given.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022517a96c7cabf74a6cc20e2c1b05443d8\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, that\u2019s absolutely correct. It\u2019s about time and it\u2019s about the response to the Minister\u2019s reasoning, and you are correct, Dr Webb, in that we\u2019ve actually now had the Minister\u2019s reasoning.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224245e9e8f202f7cdbb8191bf30d300b9\u0022\u003EDr LAWRENCE XU-NAN\u003C/span\u003E: Just to kind of finish my contribution\u2014and I do appreciate other people\u2019s contributions as well, because I think it is important to also note that I am speaking specifically on the referral motion and also specifically on the timing in accordance with Standing Orders 298(3). I think other people would be prudent to also remember some of these clauses within our own Standing Orders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI think the other point that is really important, I guess in response to what the Minister has just said\u2014the Hon Scott Simpson\u2014in terms of the rationale of why this bill needs to be in place by 30 June 2026 to be in time for 1 July, is that it proves my point earlier, which is that none of the bills and nothing we do here is done in isolation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000487\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, the reason I want to address this particular point is that currently there is another bill that\u2019s going through the House, the Public Service Amendment Bill, which particularly speaks to some of the changes, to the transitional measures when we are looking at interdepartmental\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dba3d13d3c8bdac95ad357c88326f38e\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. Now there\u2019s a reference to another bill going through this House unrelated to the time frame of this amendment. Could you please bring it back to the debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220ec59fc3a2211f5e964af3b12a2676bc\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I believe, Mr Peters, that Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan was pointing out the reasoning of the connection and how the shortened report-back date was a problem in this situation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295445808c6e844f2f4411d33325d6143\u0022\u003EDr LAWRENCE XU-NAN\u003C/span\u003E: I was about to make precisely that point, because if you look at Schedule 3 of this bill, it does talk about the department, departmental agencies, or interdepartmental ventures. Now, that is a specific part of what we\u2019re currently debating on when it comes to the Public Service Amendment Bill, Part 1, \u201CAmendments to Part 3\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe reason I mentioned that the truncated section doesn\u2019t work, and particularly in the context of what information we need from the officials, is the fact that there is no information that has been given on how, with the disestablishment of the Ministry for the Environment, that would interact with the current change we\u2019re seeing that\u2019s a bill that\u2019s going through the House right now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ECurrently, the committee stage for the Public Service Amendment Bill is number six on the Order Paper and is scheduled to continue. At best, it will pass in a few weeks\u2019 time, but by then we will have already finished the submission period of the bill and we will already be in the consideration of what this bill is going to be from the officials.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EHowever, I guess the advice I would like to have, and by resetting the speaking order with my amendment, I also invite the Minister to maybe help the House understand: are the submitters, then, expected to submit, with the understanding that the Public Service Amendment Bill would be passed by the time that this bill will come into effect? Those interactions are important because it needs to give the clarity that our public and the people of Aotearoa deserve when it comes to a bill of this magnitude like disestablishing a ministry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo, with that, I will deliver this amendment to the Clerk shortly. With that, I do want to invite the Minister to maybe explain how this will interact with some other parts of the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bcffd7a4fa632f873af16224b3185bdb\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I just want to clarify for Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan: we ruled your amendment out at the beginning because of the wording\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f19fb70b64d6d2aa63e756abab108fab\u0022\u003EDr LAWRENCE XU-NAN\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bd66a150aca1d2f8e5d32a2d2d515f4c\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order from Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan, and then I\u2019m going to come to Dr Webb.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f9e8fc2b6bc88d5148e3af7636e49705\u0022\u003EDr LAWRENCE XU-NAN\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. So, with that, because the first one, as you have instructed, has been ruled out, I move that the motion be amended to replace the words \u201C24 April 2026\u201D to \u201C24 June 2026\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c7b9df2d1eba96077c110f29df295a1d\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: OK. Yeah, I\u2019ve just had advice that because you had moved a motion, you now can\u2019t move another motion, so I\u2019m going to move on to the Hon Dr Duncan\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229b795ecf95517c8484f8dafceaa98226\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000501\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022455ee32bc7ee0a2cb55dfcaed4730641\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: You can speak to the point of order, but I\u2019ve taken advice on it and I\u2019m clear on the advice, so unless\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000502\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cffd1fc0b7cd5de49048393fdd22188c\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I just want to clarify, Madam Speaker, because you\u2019d ruled his was out of order initially, then he moved that second one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8b35fe170f3d6725bf9f8cffd66504d\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, he can\u2019t do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022abc6c7eb5b849402d9fe8c6b24efa594\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: So he can\u2019t, even though he made a mistake and he then corrected his mistake\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000505\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d64f6077f38deed0aad59add60a56328\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That is the advice that I\u2019ve been given, so we\u2019re currently speaking to the Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u2019s amendment motion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022 data-id=\u00229cb6f94cd9ba1a5c2f014398a6e33155\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000506\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229cb6f94cd9ba1a5c2f014398a6e33155\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central) (16:49)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do want to address, essentially, the two things that the Minister said. The first thing he said, which is really concerning, is that this is, essentially\u2014I think he used \u201Ctrivial and administrative\u201D, or words to that effect, essentially.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000507\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222ccd31471a8dcd5754e55cceaaf0c01d\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Minor and technical.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000508\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b75278ab52bb4f1531c77ca5b9efea5\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB\u003C/span\u003E: Minor and technical. To collapse the watchdog for the environment, the single voice in Government for the environment, into another ministry is not minor and technical.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000509\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo, to go exactly to his reasoning, the bill is a very substantial bill, and it requires substantial scrutiny. Whilst this House\u2019s debates are useful, they are nothing like the scrutiny that it can get in select committee. As has been noted, because of the timing of this bill being debated today, immediately before Parliament goes into recess, it compounds the difficulty of giving people proper and full notice of an ability to submit.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EEqually, in terms of that scrutiny function, it\u2019s deeply concerning to me that this bill has had no scrutiny so far. In terms of its policy development, outlined in the departmental disclosure statement, it\u2019s clear that it hasn\u2019t had any external or thorough scrutiny. One of the main things that\u2019s missing here\u2014and this is a Government that purports to pride itself on its regulatory quality\u2014is there is no regulatory impact statement. So that\u2019s one part of scrutiny. If the Minister had stood up and said, \u201CThe policy development of this has been extensive, widely consulted on, and there is a thoroughgoing regulatory impact statement, and therefore the select committee process is not quite as important.\u201D, that would have made sense, but he can\u2019t say that because it\u2019s simply not the case.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000511\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWhat is worse is not only is there no regulatory impact statement; there is a procedure, if you think a bill is minor and technical, to go to the Ministry for Regulation and say, \u201CCan we, essentially, have sign-off that the usual processes of undertaking a regulatory impact statement can either be reduced or done away with entirely?\u201D, but the Government didn\u2019t do that, because, the reason you cannot have a regulatory impact statement is, essentially, that the passing of the bill will have no substantial impact.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000512\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, the party who promoted the Ministry for Regulation may frame that as impact on property rights or on individual freedoms, but it\u2019s equally an impact on the environment\u2014an impact on the way we manage our natural environment. This bill has a massive impact on the way we manage our natural environment. So to suggest that it\u2019s minor and technical, and yet not getting sign-off for a regulatory impact statement on the basis that it\u2019s minor and technical, beggars belief. It\u2019s duplicitous. They\u2019re not being upfront about what this bill does, because they would have gone through the proper process if it was.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000513\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225399a96d2d64119bd24646ab9832022d\u0022\u003ESimon Court\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Look, I understand that the member\u2019s struggling to understand that the bill is a machinery of Government bill\u2014very simple\u2014but I\u2019m concerned that he\u2019s bringing the House into disrepute by accusing other members of being duplicitous, which indicates that we don\u2019t believe what we are saying. I find that unacceptable and I would like that member to apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222225df791806b5e8a5a832af681e2833\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Look, I didn\u2019t hear the member accusing any particular person of doing anything. I think he may want to clarify, but in my view he was referring to the mixed messages that have been sent here. I\u2019ve given him the opportunity to clarify.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000515\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224a73697d846e89b53e55b7c87364dee4\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB\u003C/span\u003E: Happy to clarify. My point was that the Government was presenting this bill in one way in this House, and yet in its administrative functions and Cabinet functions, it was doing something else. That\u2019s all I was alluding to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000516\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EThe same can be said in respect of the deep concerns that exist in terms of the Treaty of Waitangi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000517\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cb40eb85aab340879622563050ab25fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ad00fe7e70318a2791cad28298e9cef7\u0022\u003ETom Rutherford\u003C/span\u003E: Clock!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a566e0ea47ddc051e1a4d9adb37af885\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, I was getting a wave from Mr Rutherford, but that was a little distracting. He doesn\u2019t often wave to me!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000519\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe further point, equally, in terms of the need for a thoroughgoing analysis of this bill, which should have happened, in part, in a regulatory impact statement setting, is the Treaty of Waitangi, because, of course, mana whenua in terms of the guardianship of our natural environment, and the relationships that exist between the Ministry for the Environment and mana whenua, is really important. That is now going to disappear.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000520\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis is exactly the kind of legislation which, before its introduction, should have been consulted on. That would have been one of the first questions in the regulatory impact statement: \u201CHave you consulted with parties affected?\u201D It\u2019s clear that they didn\u2019t. So for the Minister to stand up and say, \u201CIt\u2019s minor and technical\u201D is not accurate\u2014it is far from accurate. There\u2019s a whole lot of words you could use to say that, but it\u2019s about as far from accurate as you can get.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000521\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe other point he made was to say that this must come into force on a particular day. I understand the day to be, essentially, the day at which the annual financial accounts for the Government start. Is that correct? I think that\u2019s the case\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000522\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221124dd61156e782b355904ba2c4f0035\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: 1 July.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000523\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c5dcc408910fd8194d7c4960c318787f\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB\u003C/span\u003E: 1 July. Now, that might be administratively convenient, but it\u2019s not a reason to circumvent the entire procedures of this House. In fact, there have been plenty of instances of major structural changes within Government happening. The re-establishment of the Social Investment Agency didn\u2019t happen on 1 July\u2014in fact, I think that happened on 1 January. The creation of the Ministry for Regulation happened on 1 May\u2014a totally unnecessary vanity ministry, but nevertheless it happened on 1 May. Now, there was no sense\u2014didn\u2019t have to wait two more months so that it hits the right accounting cycle; they wanted to get it under way as soon as possible, so out of the bowels of Government it sprung.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000524\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003ESo it\u2019s just fatuous to suggest that there is some magical date that means that New Zealanders can\u2019t have their say on this bill and, what\u2019s more, that means that the Treaty obligations are overridden, and the scrutiny of a bill that is, essentially, dismantling a key protection for our environment. So I\u2019ll wind it up there, but I am utterly unconvinced by the Minister\u2019s reasons given here today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000525\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002288a111e98107e91bd2f6c36b5f23f9a6\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m going to call Ricardo Men\u00E9ndez March, and just a reminder that we are debating the Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u2019s amendment. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ab32b09663ea48b199aa59e4d88f77e4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b25e9887aa45a8c4c801b4aeed30af1\u0022\u003ETim Costley\u003C/span\u003E: Madam Speaker?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022 data-id=\u0022489806737c9b2f9e91b85946537db336\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000527\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022489806737c9b2f9e91b85946537db336\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH (Green) (16:57)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000528\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224e44f87865bf6df33b5935752e7fe5f5\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve already called someone, Mr Costley.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000529\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002231ce92baf1a854c99280864114603494\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Madam Speaker. Sorry, I apologise to my colleague, but, in light of that instruction to the House, I was under the impression, in response to the query from the Hon Dr Duncan Webb earlier, that it is in addition to debating the amendment in Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u2019s name that commenting on the Minister\u2019s explanation, as Dr Webb just did\u2014now, I just want to clarify, because you\u2019ve just made it clear to the House that we are debating Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u2019s amendment, but the Minister\u2019s reasoning is also relevant.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000530\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227fd0b508a6de2f17dcfeab1ba4cec712\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. Yeah, sorry, I should have clarified that. It was mainly around the date that I was referring to, so yeah. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000531\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002239dfe23de37b2751bd45f079959ed450\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH\u003C/span\u003E: I move, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the motion be amended to replace \u201C24 April 2026\u201D with \u201C24 June 2026\u201D\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000532\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMadam Speaker, let me explain the rationale for this amendment, which my colleague Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan attempted to move earlier and, as you\u2019ve explained, due to his former amendment being ruled out, wasn\u2019t able to. Now, the reason for this amendment is that we heard from the Minister\u2014and he was correct when he pointed out that the commencement date for this bill is 1 July 2026. Now, I understand that we\u2019re not able to amend the bill itself at this point, and I understand\u2014and I\u2019m trying to offer this in good faith\u2014that if the Minister\u2019s intention is to have this come into force on 1 July, I cannot see why he wouldn\u2019t agree to an amendment that would seek to, basically, have the report-back date be on 24 June 2026.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000533\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThat is, as far as I\u2019m aware, a sitting week. The week of 1 July is also a sitting week. Now, that should allow for much better and adequate scrutiny, while, at the same time, affording time for the bill to be debated in those sitting days between 24 June and 1 July 2026, so that the second reading, the committee of the whole House, and the third reading are able to occur before the actual commencement date, which is found in clause 2 of the bill. On top of that, I think the extension of a two-month select committee period to a five-month select committee period, per my amendment, would adequately invite proper scrutiny of the bill. I know this very well, having sat on a degree of select committees on bills with a shortened select committee process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000534\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThere are two reasons why I think the extension from two months to five months, per my amendment which would seek it to return on 24 June 2026, is important. The first one is to enable adequate participation from communities that care deeply, but also people who may be, for example, working multiple jobs to make ends meet and may not be able to have the spare time and capacity to be able to submit on a bill that may have a relatively short report-back date.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000535\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI\u2019ll give an example. We\u2019ve got a bill right now in the Social Services and Community Committee which, effectively, had about 2\u00BD days for a submission period. My experience was that it, basically, became impossible to engage with members of the public who, basically, had jobs and had family lives to juggle on top of that, for them to make submissions they felt they could be proud of. I think that most people would not want, due to a shortened select committee change, to just simply write a submission saying, \u201CI support the bill.\u201D or \u201CI oppose the bill.\u201D; a lot of people would like to give a rationale for that. So, in good faith, my amendment would, I think, allow a larger amount of submissions, a greater amount of engagement, and to actually do due diligence to a robust democratic process and scrutiny.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000536\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMy amendment also draws from the Minister\u2019s comments in relation to the bill. We heard from the Minister that he doesn\u2019t intend for the functions to be changed, but, I guess, there are questions around, for example, how many fulltime-equivalents will be part of that, like the resourcing. There\u2019s a difference between functions and resourcing and powers and resourcing, as well, right? How well you can exercise those functions and powers has to do with the level of resourcing that will be given to this new entity, basically, that will be part of, effectively, a mega-ministry. I think a lengthened select committee stage\u2014still less than six months, actually; so it\u2019s five months\u2014would allow for that exchange to be adequately robust.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000537\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOther members have pointed out issues around select committee capacity. We know that the Clerk, effectively, has worked with a very similar budget for some time, and I think that also allows the Clerk to be able to produce adequate reports and to engage with us, to the best of their ability, without creating a level of burnout or stress that, perhaps, they may be engaging to a degree that they\u2019re not able to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000538\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe other point that I would like to make, as well, is that when we have quite shortened select committee stages, we\u2019re sometimes not able to adequately get information from officials to the extent and detail that members would like. I have experienced this myself in other bills and in other processes in select committee, where, for example, we may have a long and robust series of oral questions during the briefing period or, for example, our questions in writing that we may wish to put forward to the officials down the line. Officials, I acknowledge, try their best to be able to produce answers that are up to the standards that they want to produce and that also are to the standards that members expect. But when there is a shortened select committee process, it creates the conditions for that exchange between members and officials to produce answers from officials that are not, I think, good enough, and it\u2019s not their fault.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000539\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo I think the reason why I\u2019m moving this amendment is for two things. One of them is to actually comply with the intent that the Minister put forward in front of us in good faith, because I hear what the Minister said, I understand the Government\u2019s intent to pass this bill on 1 July; independent of our views about the bill, this is about actually creating the conditions for adequate scrutiny. If I look at the dates that we\u2019ve got between 24\u003Csup\u003E\u003C/sup\u003EJuly and 1 July, I think that should allow us to get it back for a second reading, committee of the whole House, and third reading. In fact, I could give the Minister, perhaps, a bit of an invitation that should we have enough time to engage in the select committee stage in a lengthened time with officials, perhaps we\u2019ll probably have less questions that we were not able to have answers to by the time we get to the committee of the whole House stage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOften, what we find is that\u2014and I go back to my motion\u2014when we have referral dates that are shorter, for example, than my motion is proposing, a lot of the questions that we have end up happening in the committee of the whole House stage. Now, that creates a much less robust and useful exchange and it also makes it harder for people who deeply care about these issues to find evidence and a track record of the information that was presented in front of us, because what happens in the committee of the whole House stage doesn\u2019t get reported in a select committee report. Now, if we had a five-month select committee process, it would allow all of that to be captured in the departmental report and also in the select committee report that is produced later down the line. That allows people who deeply care about this issue to go back to a document that is robust and is a product of a much more democratic process, compared to what we\u2019re seeing right now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000541\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EPart of the motion, as well, and the intent of the motion, is to draw from the experiences that many of us have had in select committee stages when we have had bills that have a much shortened and, often, brief report date. We have seen, firsthand, how these shortened select committee processes are simply not good enough. As I have mentioned, it also prevents people who feel, often, due to the material conditions, most disenfranchised from participating and feeling like they\u2019re heard from being able to participate in the oral submission process. It is not just the time that it takes to prepare, for example, a written submission; it is then the period that is afforded for oral submissions that follows. If you are someone who has to work multiple jobs to make ends meet\u2014for example, someone who may be battling health conditions but just deeply cares about environmental issues, or the Public Service more broadly\u2014a shortened select committee allows a shortened period for oral submissions, and to allow members of the public to find a slot that actually accommodates them, like my amendment seeks to do, is to also create a much broader oral submission process and flexibility to engage with as many members of the public who feel passionate about this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000542\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EJust to recap, the key reason for my amendment is to honour the Minister\u2019s contributions and intent, while also honouring robust, good, thorough lawmaking. I hope that members of the Government are able to get behind it, because I do not think that this goes against the intentions that the Minister put forward in front of us. Thank you, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000543\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227791adf4a9a3731bf074dec9c2c83dbf\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m not hearing any new information currently, but I am putting a warning out. I\u2019m going to take a call from Glen Bennett, but, at the moment, I think all of the reasonings that I\u2019m hearing in everyone\u2019s situation are very similar. So we\u2019ll give Glen Bennett a chance to put the case.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224de905e9a33cbbf1ce1a13448c1f41b2\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Kia ora, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000545\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dfac480059a82e665372d466f8357cf5\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just before you start speaking\u2014Ricardo Men\u00E9ndez March, you moved an amendment but we don\u2019t have\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000546\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bf7105c9fabc9fab2dc62e675aa647ac\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: I did have it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000547\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226503da9a2ca315a830515884f70acf5d\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022 data-id=\u0022aeb3ac723c9048d52e0105f075f8e839\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000548\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022aeb3ac723c9048d52e0105f075f8e839\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT (Labour) (17:08)\u003C/span\u003E: Kia ora, Madam Speaker. I want to begin my reflection on why we oppose what the Government is doing, because it is about holding the executive to account. For me, and for us in Opposition\u2014and it also should be backbenchers within the Government; their job is to hold the executive to account. They are not the executive. Just because someone may be a backbencher in the National Party, just because someone may be a backbencher in the ACT Party, if someone may be a backbencher in New Zealand First, it does not mean they are part of the executive.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000549\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAs we should all know, when we sit on select committee, it is not actually about the executive making the rules. They present, obviously, legislation, like we have here this afternoon, to the select committee, but then it is up to the select committee to critique, to unpack, to look at the fiscal ramifications, to look in terms of \u201CIs this legislation fit for purpose?\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000550\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIt is up to all of those who sit on select committees to hold the executive to account. By having a shortened select committee time frame, that undoes and lessens the ability for many of us in this House\u2014on the Government side and on the Opposition side\u2014to hold the executive to account. That is a huge part of our democracy here in New Zealand. We are a small democracy; we have one House, and we often hear in this place that we can run fast and loose with legislation because there are no checks and balances. That\u2019s why we need to be committed to the fact that select committees are a sacred and important part of this House: to ensure that the executive of 20 in Cabinet, plus the extras sitting outside Cabinet, are held to account, and to ensure that legislation that comes back to this House for its second reading and to be passed into law, potentially, is fit for purpose and that the executive don\u2019t just get their way and what they want, because that undermines democracy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000551\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve talked a lot about participation, so I won\u2019t spend a lot of time on it, but, actually, it does erode what goes on here. The fact that we have record numbers of people feeling disenfranchised with politics and with the Government means we need to make sure that we are lifting and making sure that people are able to participate, but also to believe that what goes on in here and in the select committee rooms is something that actually works.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000552\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI also want to talk about something that I\u2019m not sure people think about when it comes to select committees. I always find it really fascinating, in the second reading of a piece of legislation, that, so often, members on all sides of this House will step up and say that the select committee is the engine room of this place. It\u2019s the place where it doesn\u2019t get too political, where we reach out across the aisle, we work together, and we pull things apart and put them back together. It\u2019s around the cross-party participation that we hear so often in a second reading in this House. Yet again truncating and shortening a select committee process is undermining that cross-party collegiality\u2014that ability to work together to get it right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000553\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI want to comment about when I was on the Environment Committee, which this piece of legislation is going to go to, around the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill. The reason I bring it up is because my colleague the Hon Rachel Brooking and myself sat there and went through the submission process and listened to the submitters and participated\u2014and of course we didn\u2019t want it to pass. Of course we didn\u2019t want that piece of legislation to pass, but we did what we could in the select committee to reach out across the aisle, to work with our colleagues\u2014our backbench colleagues in the Government\u2014to find a way, if it has to come back to this House for a second reading, for the committee of the whole House stage and the third reading and Royal assent, to do everything we can to make sure that that piece of legislation vaguely had something a bit more in it that would be slightly more palatable for us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000554\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI think, and I know, that every time a shortened report-back time is presented\u2014every time a select committee process is shortened\u2014it diminishes the ability of this House to reach out and work together, and that is an issue. As I said in my previous comments, we\u2019re responsible for holding the executive to account, and that requires all of us who are not in the executive\u2014but it also means: how do we work across the floor, together, to make sure that this small democracy is fit for purpose?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000555\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOf course, the other thing that I want to mention is about how good things take time. Yes, the Government, for whatever reason, has decided that 1 July is a very important date for them to create this new ministry. That\u2019s not our problem; that\u2019s the executive and the Government\u2019s problem for choosing that binary date for whatever reason. It takes time to get law right. We oppose this legislation, obviously, and we have good reason to oppose it, but it should, again, sit in select committee and give us time to unpack it. It was said earlier around officials and having submitters come through. We know that poor process is short and fast and loose, and we don\u2019t want that. Good law takes time\u2014and that might be frustrating for the executive, but it\u2019s just the way it should be. If they want to set an arbitrary date, then they should have thought a bit earlier about the process and how they would make that work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000556\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EFinally, I just want to mention about submitters and those who feel like they\u2019ve just been on this constant rollercoaster and this constant cycle of having to submit, time after time after time, on legislation that seems to come so quickly and so loosely. I think particularly of some of our smaller organisations. We\u2019ve heard some of them mentioned in the House during the debate on the first reading. Some of those smaller organisations and some of those individuals are those who work full-time and who don\u2019t have time to actually formulate their ideas and their concepts to help us. Again, in the second reading, I so often hear Government MPs get up and say how wonderful it was to have the community, stakeholders, and key organisations present and give us great food for thought to wrestle with and make sure this law is good. What we do when we shorten our time frame yet again, particularly for our small organisations and our small businesses\u2014who are already struggling to keep up with everything that\u2019s going on, with paying the bills, and, of course, we talk about the cost of living so often\u2014I really think it disadvantages those smaller groups who will have less time or ability to have reasoned, thoughtful, well-produced arguments on why they oppose it, or maybe why they support this legislation, for those who do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000557\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI really need us to think about this and my opening point around the executive. The executive needs to be held to account\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000558\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002226c973122df77c0da872224cfe814c77\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: You said that at the start.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000559\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bf5fd4dea5ed17104ae8651605ffc97b\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: As I sum up: as I said, Mr Peters, we must hold our executive to account. I challenge the backbench MPs in Government. Those members talk about it all the time, and we need to make sure that we get it right. For us to shorten this process is not good lawmaking, it doesn\u2019t engage key stakeholders, and it\u2019s just not holding our executive to account. That concerns me around our small democracy that we must protect, because we are a voice to the world, and we need to extend the time of a select committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022694c3cef004e40d78a26712dce80070d\u0022 data-id=\u0022847840d276ba7cfcc593f26cbd8de2a6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000560\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022694c3cef004e40d78a26712dce80070d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022847840d276ba7cfcc593f26cbd8de2a6\u0022\u003ESUZE REDMAYNE (Junior Whip\u2014National) (17:18)\u003C/span\u003E: I move, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat debate on this question now close\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000561\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat debate on this question now close.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000562\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003EAyes 68\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000563\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 id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000564\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003ENoes 53\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000565\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 13; Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 4; Ferris; Kapa-Kingi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000566\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000567\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022811b7e483f5238fa4171896c9c9ed6aa\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the amendment in the name of the Hon Dr Deborah Russell be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000568\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the motion be amended by replacing \u201C24 April\u201D with \u201C16 July 2026\u201D\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000569\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003EAyes 53\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 13; Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 4; Ferris; Kapa-Kingi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000571\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003ENoes 68\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000572\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 id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000573\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAmendment not agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000574\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022254a58de7cb28b67c6a340a6c08aca3f\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the amendment in the name of the Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000575\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the motion be amended by replacing \u201C24 April\u201D with \u201C18 June 2026\u201D\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000576\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003EAyes 53\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000577\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 13; Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 4; Ferris; Kapa-Kingi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000578\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003ENoes 68\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000579\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 id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000580\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAmendment not agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000581\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226bfe4cc7e7635dfa1ae186ada4cb24f8\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the amendment in the name of Ricardo Men\u00E9ndez March be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000582\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the motion be amended by replacing \u201C24 April 2026\u201D with \u201C24 June 2026\u201D\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000583\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003EAyes 53\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000584\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 13; Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 4; Ferris; Kapa-Kingi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003ENoes 68\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000586\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 id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000587\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAmendment not agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000588\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill be reported to the House by 24 April 2026\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000589\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003EAyes 68\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000590\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 id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003ENoes 53\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000592\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 13; Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 4; Ferris; Kapa-Kingi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000593\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=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022 data-id=\u0022ac6b57984e332b95b8f7af952d8b14fc\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000594\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ac6b57984e332b95b8f7af952d8b14fc\u0022\u003EDr LAWRENCE XU-NAN (Green) (17:24)\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just want to seek your advice on what we just debated in terms of referral motions, because I can\u2019t make a point of order while the voting is happening. Rightfully, you took a closure motion, but one of the things we often do see as part of the referral motion is the exemption of Standing Orders 193, 195, and 196, and one of the things I was hoping to do was move an amendment around one of the Standing Orders\u2014despite Standing Order 196\u2014that 196 be exempted. The reason I ask for your guidance on this is the fact that with a limited or truncated select committee process, unless 196 is exempted, it means that the select committee must go to the Business Committee to ensure that 196 is waived. Otherwise, the select committee cannot sit.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000595\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a63a7c127fec36e7dbc6b84569f25190\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: So I understand the member\u2019s point of order, but I did put out warnings at various times about the limited width of the debate, and we had had ample time for those issues to be brought up. I was hearing a lot of repetition. I understand that these are always very tense situations and I can understand the Opposition\u2019s anger at what\u2019s just happened here, but, actually, the arguments that I heard to that point\u2014there were no new arguments coming through. So I thank you for kindly saying I rightly made that call, and we will move on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000596\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002262e2464a2dbc1bb18612f7d714dc8d0b\u0022\u003EEnglish Language Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000597\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022fa45bccd88d4815f73f2ab9eb6eb8c37\u0022\u003EFirst Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022 data-id=\u00224c4412627825e0f078233979f5e5857a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000598\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224c4412627825e0f078233979f5e5857a\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Minister of Foreign Affairs) (17:26)\u003C/span\u003E: on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Justice\u003C/span\u003E: I move, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the English Language Bill be now read a first time\u003C/span\u003E. I nominate the Justice Committee to consider the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000599\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis bill seeks to formally recognise that English is an official language of New Zealand in legislation. English has long been the predominant language of Government, education, people with some brains, commerce, and daily life in New Zealand. It is spoken by around 95 percent of the population. It has never been formally recognised in statute as an official language. This bill seeks to correct that anomaly, providing consistency in legal framework and clarifying the status of all three official languages in legislation. The bill does not diminish the status of other official languages, te reo M\u0101ori and New Zealand Sign Language, but rather complements them, acknowledging the linguistic reality of our nation and affirming the value of English as a shared means of communication used by the mass majority of the population\u2014I\u2019ll say it again quietly: used by the mass majority of the population.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000600\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill reflects commitments made in the New Zealand First - National coalition agreement to legislate for the official status of the English language.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000601\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d52c571cdb246f6abf50a39de1a66f7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224fd2174633c31098d4ec3517d319a021\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: What\u2019s your fear?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000602\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002289666aac636d6bffd8c53f2b3c7e90ff\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: English will continue to be the predominant language used in our courts, Parliament, and Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000603\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227b629942684de8f3c5d201a56303f834\u0022\u003EHon Member: \u003C/span\u003EWhy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000604\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002278f2563ed86dc866188765222cbefb69\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: This bill provides clarity and certainty. The purpose of an introductory speech is that some ignoramuses, like you, might learn why the bill is being brought in the first time. So be patient. For the next eight minutes, you\u2019re going to hear them all, and a bit extra.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000605\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EThis bill provides clarity and certainty\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000606\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bac3dcb6103a48d3bcead8563342a856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022987d555424885628b0a1e6746d462a56\u0022\u003EDr Lawrence Xu-Nan\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000607\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fd09c35aaadee8d55cf1ce65f30c6131\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, I know what the member\u2019s going to say and I was just trying to advise the Rt Hon Winston Peters to be careful about calling names. I\u2019m not sure who it was intended at, but it was certainly intended at an individual, and I\u2019d ask the member to refrain from that type of language. Thank you. Just use plain language\u2014English!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000608\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2acc6a153df121c2df108d00ca914ab\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I know that some people have limitations when it comes to our language, but I\u2019m not one of them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000609\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill provides clarity and certainty in legislation of the official status of the English language in New Zealand. This affirms, in legislation, that New Zealand has three official languages. Other jurisdictions have taken similar measures to recognise English as an official language, including Canada, Ireland, and Wales. This indicates the importance of providing for the official status of a language in legislation to ensure a country\u2019s official languages are respected and supported in public life, or more importantly, it is what the people in the mass majority of this country want.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000610\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis bill is an important clarification of the official status of the English language in New Zealand in legislation. This bill not only clears up a long-held assumption that English was already an official language but, importantly, also serves very practical applications.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000611\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWith the increase, in recent years, in te reo being used in place of English, even when less than 5 percent of the New Zealand population can read, write, or speak it, it has created situations that encourage misunderstanding and confusion for all, and all for the purpose to push a narrative. We have some very real situations now where communications and names of important services are using te reo as primary names and language, and the room for confusion and miscommunication is huge. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000612\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223cd70d7bbc9d3104066c4533abc21759\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: Tell us about confusion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000613\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222ddfba24df7a38ee260efed843e385f8\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: We have alarming examples in our essential health services in hospitals and online, and that former Minister should know that. First responders, on their vehicles and in communications, being unable to get to places because they don\u2019t know where they\u2019re going; transport services with important road signs\u2014they have all announced that. But, of course, over there, being the elitist specialists they are, they ignore ordinary hard-workers\u2014they think they know better. There are examples of transport services with important road signs, and even an example of the important maritime navigational charts place names being changed to te reo in recent years. More and more place names, bays, headlands, safe anchorage points, and key navigation points have shifted from English to re reo on electronic charts, and the English name only becomes visible once you are physically within a bay or know precisely where to look.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000614\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EThis is getting patently ridiculous. Here is a real example of the risk and the consequences of not using the language that the mass majority of people in New Zealand understand. I was sent the following example privately just recently: \u201CDuring a recent experience in the Bay of Islands and on an increasingly stormy January day, after an 11-hour coastal passage, the issue became significantly more perilous. Still several miles offshore in deteriorating conditions, the lack of clearly visible and well-recognised English place names on the latest electronic charts made orientation far more difficult than it should have been.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000615\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221db5be29e19d5cd7c4caaa5781959009\u0022\u003EHon Dr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000616\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227dc0d5d35ff37bca29bb27bb4c805b01\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: See\u2014it\u2019s a laughing matter over there. I just heard the so-called lawyer from Christchurch thinking it\u2019s funny. He thinks it\u2019s hilarious. [\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E] Let me tell you, I was a far more successful lawyer than you, sunshine\u2014about 10 times more successful.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000617\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002205132464141ea72ea6d241a10ebfdc3d\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Back to the bill. I know it was provoked but we\u2019ll go back to the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000618\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002241b877b33087aea72d6556e2760607f0\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: But I\u2019m here now: \u201CWhen navigating unfamiliar waters, the inability to easily identify known safe anchorages by not being able to reorientate yourself against recognised place names, such as Russell, adds another level of risk. These names do appear once you zoom right into the fine detail, but when you need to see a broader area to plan an approach and those landmarks are not visible and are instead named in te reo, it can be both distressing and dangerous. In our case, daylight was fading, 40 knot winds and 2.3 metre seas were forecast, and conditions building. We needed to find safe harbour promptly without placing further stress on crew and family. That included M\u0101ori on the boat as well.\u201D How do you like that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000619\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EThese changes to place names on navigational charts can only have come from Government departments such as Land Information New Zealand providing name changes. This form of dangerous and nonsensical totalitarianism is a reminder of the old Soviet Union. [\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E] You should love this, being a pinko, being a communist\u2014you should love this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000620\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c283da9c0e352eaebb60969ccc3aaaa5\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. Madam Speaker, there\u2019s a longstanding and consistent convention in this House that members must not refer to others as communists. It has been upheld consistently from Speakers throughout my relatively short time in this Parliament. It should not be permitted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000621\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f2196e171841775d3e86269897da0724\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I agree with the member, and I think the Rt Hon Winston Peters should refrain from the name calling and focus on the piece of legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000622\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c7fbfa5a41fd9e5f7be03103e463f062\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Madam Speaker, I was reading from his CV.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000623\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002223dd227fd90430bb17a2996e35663411\u0022\u003EHon Members: \u003C/span\u003EOh!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000624\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d36d1bca1377b0ecee0f4f56e19f940e\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, yes\u2014I\u2019ll table the CV.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224974497cf57dedec789aba4cf6d00583\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, that\u2019s not relevant, and if the member wishes to continue with this line of conversation he will withdraw and apologise. Otherwise, he will go straight back to the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a5cc02b418657c24387179fd198f21c3\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: OK. This form of dangerous, nonsensical totalitarianism is a reminder of the old Soviet Union where out-of-touch bureaucrats were building, costing, and installing chandeliers based on weight-for-production bonuses rather than shape and design, and as a result, ripping the ceilings out of buildings because they were too heavy. And then President Khrushchev, upon finding this out, asked this question: for whom is this illuminating? And \u201Cfor whom?\u201D are the circumstances we are now finding ourselves in with the use of te reo as a means of important communication now illuminating what, exactly? That\u2019s what happens when cross purposes defeat the public good.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000627\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EThis bill won\u2019t solve the push of this virtue signalling narrative completely, but it is the first step towards ensuring logic and common sense prevails when the vast majority of New Zealanders communicate in English and understand English in a country that should use English as its primary and official language. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000628\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e6b5cd9a68b567dd5cad60dc5007ccc9\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: Can they read in English?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000629\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf9e1eb91ef740868a26db659355f7e9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226c7653043b3cbb38714bb88a9140385f\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I commend the bill of the House, and for that member over there, next time I\u2019ll bring some pictures to show her what I mean.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aad1c01b036179c68e9207ad890bba60\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the motion be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022 data-id=\u00228853919c26caa17e43c2170bb37170fd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000631\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228853919c26caa17e43c2170bb37170fd\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central) (17:35)\u003C/span\u003E: \u003Cspan lang=\u0022mi\u0022\u003EE te Mana Whakaw\u0101, ng\u0101 mihi.\u003C/span\u003E Great to be here in Aotearoa today to celebrate this. Look, I didn\u2019t know it was comedy hour\u2014that speech was a rambling mess. What Russian chandeliers have to do with the English language, I don\u2019t know. Only the wandering mind of Winston Peters could tell us that\u2014so-called lawyer that he is. He\u2019s only ever appeared in court as a litigant.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000632\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis is yet another example of the important things that this Government wants to do\u2014while people can\u2019t buy their kids school uniforms, they want to make sure that English is the official language of New Zealand. While power prices are surging, they want to make sure that signs are in English as well as te reo, although I think I heard Winston Peters say that he got disoriented if he saw a te reo sign. Well, he\u2019s certainly disoriented today, but I\u2019m not sure it was a te reo sign that did it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000633\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELook, the fact of the matter is that this bill is entirely unnecessary. Winston Peters himself talks about 1840 and the clauses, the actual wording, of the Treaty of Waitangi, where the English Government obtained sovereignty, at least in some sense, over New Zealand and all of the laws of England applied. That\u2019s what happened on that day. That is what the intention, at least of the English, in signing that treaty was. What is the official language of England? We still inherit those laws. Read the English laws application Act, a piece of legislation where we inherit all of the laws and customs of England into New Zealand today. And what\u2019s the official language of the United Kingdom? It\u2019s not out there in legislation. There is no English Act or United Kingdom Act that sets out English as an official language. But I\u2019m pretty sure they\u2019re comfortable with the fact that it\u2019s an official language of England and the United Kingdom. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000634\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo this is an entirely unnecessary piece of legislation\u2014yet another distraction; a silly piece of legislation that Winston Peters, in his Jurassic thinking, wants to put before his sub-sub-subsection of voters because they get a little bit anxious because the library in Christchurch Central is called T\u016Branga.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000635\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d6090c07e47fb960e52f168ce01b3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022409ef22c1337bc49be5bbd874a1c76e4\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: What?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000636\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022de30ce9ce8c33eae1a96da44e22104e3\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, I know. It\u2019s a big building full of books, with big signs to it, but because it doesn\u2019t say \u201CLibrary\u201D, they don\u2019t know that it\u2019s the library if they\u2019re New Zealand First voters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000637\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo that\u2019s the distraction. They are trying to distract us, with this trivial bill, away from the fact that they can\u2019t actually run the country. That chaotic coalition, that fractured group of people, can\u2019t actually run the country, can\u2019t get costs down, can\u2019t actually cut the cost of living, can\u2019t organise two boats for the Cook Strait\u2014haven\u2019t seen those yet; the costs there are still going up. But, no, on a Thursday afternoon, they want us to be talking about the English language\u2014and it is a great language. But, of course, one of the challenges is that you\u2019re going to ossify the language.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000638\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EYou don\u2019t want to freeze it. A language is a moving thing. If you listen to a conversation in New Zealand today, you don\u2019t actually hear English English; you hear New Zealand English. The beautiful thing about it is that it\u2019s got a scattering of words\u2014or more than a scattering; a goodly number of words\u2014from languages around the Pacific: te reo, Samoan, Tongan. That is what language should be. Here\u2019s a good question: what English is it? Is it New Zealand English, American English, English English? These are actually dialects. But, you know, they want to box it in. The great joy of our language is that it\u2019s alive\u2014and that\u2019s why.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229340db0d6051493982fc3db81fee975a\u0022 data-id=\u002216fabd40cf7263e499cef26443d90ba1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000639\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229340db0d6051493982fc3db81fee975a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002216fabd40cf7263e499cef26443d90ba1\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Co-Leader\u2014Green) (17:40)\u003C/span\u003E:\u003Cspan lang=\u0022mi\u0022\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e te M\u0101ngai. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou e te Whare\u003C/span\u003E. This week, parts of Aotearoa will once again plunge underwater in the most recent climate emergency. These one-in-100-year weather events that we consistently see are occurring week after week after week. Sewage is spilling into the waters in our capital. There are water boil notices in our second-largest city because of the bacteria in our drinking water, and, as a result of the intentional economic decisions that this Government has made, unemployment is the highest that it has been in a decade, and Christopher Luxon waves goodbye to 200 New Zealanders every single day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000640\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo this week, Christopher Luxon and his Government has once again plunged our House into urgency and made their priorities abundantly clear: firstly, disestablishing the Ministry for the Environment, literally; and, secondly, leaving tens of thousands of beneficiaries living in poverty, despite their entitlements to ACC and despite the courts telling this Government that that practice is unlawful. And now we are spending our time in this place debating whether to make English an official language.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000641\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThese are intentional decisions. The Government continues to choose to remove protections for our environment; to pour oil, coal, and gas on the climate crisis fire, and to make life harder for regular hard-working New Zealanders just trying to get by. That is actually why this English Language Bill is on the Order Paper today, because the Government wants us distracted, they want us divided, and they want regular people exhausted, fighting amongst themselves. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000642\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESome out there say that this Government is stupid. Unfortunately, I think that they know exactly what they are doing. The English language is not under threat. We are literally speaking it and debating in it right now. This is a bill which is an answer to a problem that does not exist\u2014a problem which this Government is trying to create in the minds of people across this country in place of the very real problems of the climate crisis, record homelessness, inequality, and infrastructural decay, which they have decided to actively make worse.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000643\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAll across the world, official language status is provided to protect languages under threat, in order to put a spotlight on the need to protect and resource their survival and revival. Here, in Aotearoa, that status has been granted to te reo M\u0101ori as the indigenous language of this country, which was once physically, violently beaten out of the mouths of M\u0101ori by those who imposed English as the only language. M\u0101ori fought for more than a century to keep the language alive and fought for decades to see it afforded the status that it has today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000644\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe royal commission into abuse in State care told this House pretty recently that Deaf New Zealanders were not only denied the right to learn sign language but also punished for using it. That is the reality of our history. That is why te reo M\u0101ori and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) were granted their official status. Te reo M\u0101ori was fought for, NZSL was fought for; English, however, was literally beaten into people. We are speaking it right now. It is not under threat. But in order to try and cling to power, this Government has decided that it needs to bank on fear. It needs to invent an oppression that does not exist. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000645\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIf you\u2019re wondering how Trump\u2019s America happened, it is actually through tactics exactly like this. Trump has done exactly this so recently in an executive order. The Government wants to stoke a fight between te iwi M\u0101ori and P\u0101keh\u0101, and they want that fight to be the focus of this election. But no one out there in the real world\u2014perhaps bar their mates in the Atlas Network and Hobson\u2019s Pledge\u2014have asked for this. New Zealanders\u2014M\u0101ori and tangata Tiriti alike\u2014just want to live their lives in peace. They want food on the table, a roof over their head, a decent income, and a place to belong. That is the reason 100,000 took to the streets last year to reject this Government\u2019s approach.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000646\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo, in plain English for all members of this Government: this bill is bullshit and you know it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022 data-id=\u0022725ee21b421b75f3cb775c13d1f71b9a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000647\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022725ee21b421b75f3cb775c13d1f71b9a\u0022\u003ESIMON COURT (ACT) (17:46)\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s incredibly difficult to respond to such a rant that is removed from the purpose and intent\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000648\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002215a100f821a3f4305cf83a9a9183e78d\u0022\u003EHon Dr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s your Minister you\u2019re talking about!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000649\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002289ef1fc2d1adf41209ea503cffcfe9f1\u0022\u003ESIMON COURT\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014of this very simple bill to restore and establish English as an official language, so when people like Duncan Webb go to the library, they can see the word \u201Clibrary\u201D, which is what many New Zealanders have been asking for. Can we read it in English, which is the language most people speak? It doesn\u2019t have to be a culture war issue, Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick and the Greens or Labour; it\u2019s simply practical, constructive, common sense. ACT supports this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cb40eb85aab340879622563050ab25fa\u0022 data-id=\u00228948ed9deb9d48ace142b8ac80385a13\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000650\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cb40eb85aab340879622563050ab25fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228948ed9deb9d48ace142b8ac80385a13\u0022\u003ETOM RUTHERFORD (National\u2014Bay of Plenty) (17:46)\u003C/span\u003E: I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022 data-id=\u002271021aaaed669d5a41b255d9344e7530\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000651\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b11bafcf5b5427480393ffeef4fe6e8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002271021aaaed669d5a41b255d9344e7530\u0022\u003EORIINI KAIPARA (Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014T\u0101maki Makaurau) (17:46)\u003C/span\u003E: \u003Cspan lang=\u0022mi\u0022\u003EHe aha te aha ka pahawa i t\u0113nei pire? I ahu mai t\u0113nei pire i hea? He aha ng\u0101 hua ka puta ki a Ng\u0101i P\u0101keh\u0101 n\u014D r\u0101tou tonu t\u0113nei reo. T\u0113n\u0101 areare taringa mai ki te reo rangatira, ki te reo M\u0101ori, ki te reo tuatahi o t\u0113nei whenua. He reo i whakamantia e te ture i te tau tahi mano iwa rau waru tekau m\u0101 whitu. Kua tata ki te hokorua tau e toit\u016B ana te reo M\u0101ori i t\u014Dna whenua tipu, i taea ai n\u0101 ng\u0101 moni, n\u0101 ng\u0101 toto, n\u0101 ng\u0101 hekenga t\u014Dt\u0101 a te momo p\u0113r\u0101 i a Hana Te Hemara m\u0101, i kawe mai i te Petihana Reo M\u0101ori ki ng\u0101 tepe o P\u0101remata i te tau tahi mano iwa rau whitu tekau m\u0101 rua. I mautohe te iwi M\u0101ori i \u0113r\u0101 tau i te kitenga iho i te mate \u0101-moa te reo M\u0101ori. N\u014D t\u0113nei rautau noa nei i t\u012Bmata ai te whakarauoratia o t\u0113nei taonga, te reo M\u0101ori. Kei te r\u0101rangi m\u014D ng\u0101 reo kua tata koreh\u0101h\u0101 o UNESCO te reo M\u0101ori e tiaki mai ana. Kei ng\u0101 kokonga o te ao te reo M\u0101ori e rere ana, heoi, i konei, i Aotearoa nei, kei te tohe nui tonu a ng\u0101i pikoko ki te reo M\u0101ori kia \u016Bkaip\u014D an\u014D ia ki \u014Dna k\u0101inga, ki \u014D m\u0101tou hapori, kia ora tonu ai t\u014D m\u0101tou ahurea. Otir\u0101 kei te \u0101kina rawatia e ng\u0101 ngaru nui o whakatoihara, o k\u016Bare, o ng\u0101kau kino, o manawa h\u016Bngorungoru.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000652\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022mi\u0022\u003EN\u014Dku e p\u0101nui ana i te pire nei, me te whakarongo ki te toki p\u016Bhuki n\u0101na i wh\u0101o i t\u0113nei pire, ka whakaaro ake ahau, he aha t\u0101na e whai nei? Uaua ka kitea he tauira i te ao e mana nei i te reo P\u0101keh\u0101, n\u0101 Chl\u00F6e tonu t\u0113r\u0101 k\u014Drero. Ko Amerika me K\u0101nata noa iho kua p\u0113r\u0101. E tika ana kia whai a Aotearoa i \u0101 r\u0101ua t\u0101uira? I n\u0113? He aha te hua o te pire nei mehemea i t\u0101na te reo P\u0101keh\u0101 hei reo matua i Aotearoa, \u0101 puta noa i te ao. In\u0101 k\u0113 te nui o ng\u0101 tauira i te ao e kite ai t\u0101tou ko t\u0101 te ture he tiaki i ng\u0101 reo, p\u0113nei i te reo M\u0101ori, e tata ana te koreh\u0101h\u0101. He aha ai? In\u0101 k\u0113 te nui o ng\u0101 tauira i te ao i k\u014Drerotia ki te ngaro te reo, ka ngaro te tuakiri tangata, ka ngaro te iwi, ka riro hoki te mauri o te mana M\u0101ori, te mauri hoki o t\u0113nei whenua. E mate ana te reo P\u0101keh\u0101? N\u014D! Me pau he moni an\u014D ki te whakarauora i te reo P\u0101keh\u0101? He mahi ka riro ki ng\u0101 wh\u0101nau e p\u014Dhara ana i te motu m\u0101 t\u0113nei pire hou? Kua raru nui a Aotearoa i te whanaketanga o te reo M\u0101ori, ahakoa ko t\u014Dna tekau m\u0101 waru \u014Drau noa iho m\u0101tou e m\u014Dhio ana ki te k\u014Drero. E whakatumatumangia ana te iwi k\u014Drero P\u0101keh\u0101 o Aotearoa i a au, i taku reo M\u0101ori? K\u0101hore, k\u0101hore. He aha t\u0101 te Minita n\u0101na t\u0113nei pire i whao? He whakatamariki i te reo rangatira, he t\u0101mi i te mana M\u0101ori, he whakahoki i te whenua ki ng\u0101 r\u0101 o te waru, ar\u0101 o te ng\u014Duruuru. Koir\u0101 t\u0101ku e kite nei, koir\u0101 t\u0101 Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori e whakahau nei.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022mi\u0022\u003EHe pire moumou w\u0101, moumou h\u0101. K\u014D t\u0101 te Tiriti o Waitangi, he tiaki i \u0101 t\u0101tou reo katoa, tae atu ki ng\u0101 reo o ng\u0101 iwi n\u0101 r\u0101ua tonu te Tiriti i waitohu hei painga m\u014D Aotearoa t\u0101ngata katoa. Me mana te reo P\u0101keh\u0101 e toit\u016B ai te Tiriti? K\u0101hore. Kia hah\u016B ake ahau, i te w\u0101hanga tuarua o Te Aho Matua hei kai m\u0101 te hinengaro o te Minita n\u0101na t\u0113nei pire. W\u0101hanga tuarua Te Aho Matua, rua ira tahi, e k\u012B ana he tapu ng\u0101 reo katoa, n\u014D reira me whai koha ki ng\u0101 reo katoa. M\u014D ng\u0101 tamariki, kia rua ng\u0101 reo. Ko te reo o ng\u0101 m\u0101tua t\u016Bpuna tuatahi, ko te reo o tauiwi tuarua. Kia \u014Drite te pakari o ia reo kia t\u016B tangata ai ng\u0101 tamariki i roto i te reo M\u0101ori, i roto hoki i te reo tauiwi. A k\u0101ti, kia panoni i a au i t\u0113r\u0101 k\u014Drero, me te whakatauk\u012B ake i konei, kia toru k\u0113 ng\u0101 reo o \u0101 t\u0101tou tamariki. Ko te reo M\u0101ori ka tahi, ko te reo P\u0101keh\u0101 ka rua, ko te reo rotarota ka toru. Whakautengia ng\u0101 reo e toru o Aotearoa. Kaua e tuku kia k\u014Dhurutia te reo M\u0101ori me te reo rotarota e te reo P\u0101keh\u0101. Ki te p\u0113r\u0101, he pakanga nui kei te haere. N\u014D hea au, n\u014D hea m\u0101tou o Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori e whakaae ki t\u0113nei pire.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000654\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EWhat will this bill achieve? Where has it come from? What gain will be made by P\u0101keh\u0101, the people whose language this is? Listen closely to the M\u0101ori language, the first language of this land. A language recognised by law in 1987. It\u2019s been almost 20 years that the M\u0101ori language has been sustained in its own land, made possible through funds, blood and sweat of those like Hana Te Hemara, who brought the M\u0101ori Language Petition to the steps of Parliament in 1972. At that time, the M\u0101ori people protested as they could see that the M\u0101ori language was heading to extinction. It was this century that the revitalisation of the treasured M\u0101ori language began. The M\u0101ori language sits on UNESCO\u2019s list of near extinct languages. The M\u0101ori language is being spoken across the world. However, here, in New Zealand, those hungry for the M\u0101ori language are continually striving for the language to be re-embedded in their homes, in our communities, so that our culture remains alive but, instead, it is being beaten down by great waves of discrimination, of ignorance, of malice, of insecurity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000655\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EAs I read this bill and listened to the blunt adze that shaped this bill, I wondered, \u201CWhat is he trying to achieve?\u201D It is difficult to find an example around the world that recognises the English language, as Chl\u00F6e said. Only America and Canada have done so. Is it right that New Zealand should follow their examples? Really? What will be gained from this bill if, as it says, the English language should be the main language of New Zealand and around the world. There are numerous examples from around the world where it is apparent that the role of the law is to preserve languages, like the M\u0101ori language, that are nearing extinction. Why? There are numerous examples around the world that state if a language dies, the identity of the people is lost, the people are lost, the essence of M\u0101ori autonomy, the vital essence of this land. Is the English language dying? No! Should more money be spent to revitalise the English language? Will this new bill bring employment to the impoverished families of this country? The growth of the M\u0101ori language has been problematic for New Zealand, even though there are only 18 percent of us who can speak the M\u0101ori language. Is the English-speaking population threatened by me, by my M\u0101ori language? No. What is the intention of the Minister who shaped this bill? To trivialise the M\u0101ori language, suppress M\u0101ori autonomy, and take this land back to times of scarcity. That is what I see; that is what Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori is contending with.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000656\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThis bill is a waste of time and a waste of breath. The Treaty of Waitangi protects all our languages, including the peoples that signed the Treaty for the benefit of all New Zealanders. Must the English language be recognised for the Treaty to be honoured? No. I bring to light section two of Te Aho Matua for the consideration of the Minister who brings this bill. Section two of Te Aho Matua, 2.1, states that all languages are sacred, therefore all languages should be appreciated. Children should have two languages. Firstly, the language of their forebears, secondly, the English language. Now, let me adjust that, and proclaim that our children should know three languages: firstly, the M\u0101ori language; secondly, the English language; and, thirdly, sign language. Respect all three languages of New Zealand. Don\u2019t allow the M\u0101ori language and sign language to be eliminated by the English language. If this was to happen, we will have a great fight on our hands. I and Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori will never agree to this bill\u003C/span\u003E.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022 data-id=\u00222e2afdcf92091732645575c0e5eb2a7f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000657\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222e2afdcf92091732645575c0e5eb2a7f\u0022\u003ECARL BATES (National\u2014Whanganui) (17:51)\u003C/span\u003E: English has long been a de facto language in this country. This bill simply recognises that and makes no other changes. I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022 data-id=\u0022f52510c9e67fdc38f57df5f5a2ed0a44\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000658\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f52510c9e67fdc38f57df5f5a2ed0a44\u0022\u003EHon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Labour) (17:52)\u003C/span\u003E: It is remarkable, at a time when New Zealanders are struggling with the cost of living, when food prices are going up, where people are struggling to pay the rent, when unemployment is at record highs, that this is the Government\u2019s priority\u2014that this is the Government\u2019s priority when there are real problems out there in the community that need to be addressed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000659\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI can only join my colleague Duncan Webb in concluding that this Government is bereft of ideas about how to address the real issues for New Zealanders. They are so out of touch that they need this piece of symbolism. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000660\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBut the Government has chosen to devote Parliament\u2019s time to this bill, so I have the remaining time left for my speech to talk about the beauty of the English language. It is a beautiful language, and it is so powerful. I care deeply about English because of how my mum raised me. My mum loves the English language; in fact, she\u2019s an English teacher. She\u2019s from the Maldives. They don\u2019t speak English there; they speak their own language, Dhivehi. She was born there in 1950. Her aunt, who spoke not a scrap of English, who raised her, knew that my mum needed to speak English to secure a good future for herself\u2014so mum did. She worked really hard at her English, and she was the first person from her country to pass Cambridge O Levels in English. That\u2019s how she got a Colombo Plan scholarship to come to New Zealand. She loved English so much, she went to Otago University, she went to teacher\u2019s college, and, by the time I was born, she was teaching New Zealand students English. Can you imagine that? A woman from another part of the world, who used to read Oscar Wilde, even though she\u2019s never met an English man, comes to New Zealand and teaches New Zealand kids in Southland English. Because I\u2019m from a small town, I sat in her class\u2014the class where she taught Shakespeare, where she taught Steinbeck to New Zealanders. That\u2019s pretty special. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000661\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EKind of ironic to think that someone for whom English wasn\u2019t their first language gave so much in terms of enjoyment of English and English literature to her students. I\u2019ve been thinking about my mum a lot today, because I sat in her classes during the 1990s, where English was being used in a very powerful and destructive way in this country. Some politicians were making claims about there being an Asian invasion in the 1990s. Someone in our class raised that. They asked questions about Asians, and my mum, feeling bigger than her five-foot - nothing stature, took on those racist questions posed in our class, and said to the students in our class not to believe what you might hear from politicians. Now, we had a discussion as a class and that matter resolved itself, but that wasn\u2019t the case all the way around New Zealand in the 1990s.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000662\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ERemember, a Somali refugee family had a burning cross erected on their lawn because New Zealand politicians\u2014some of them were indulging in race baiting. I remember that. That was what was happening in my childhood.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000663\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EPart of the power of the English language\u2014yes, its beautiful words, but when we speak in the English language, we have impact beyond our words. As politicians, we create permission for people to do things outside this House. So that\u2019s what happens when politicians indulge in racism. The English language can be used as a weapon, and that can lead to people having violent acts committed against them. It can be used for people being insulted and humiliated. I remember after that time, mum and dad took us on a long drive to Christchurch and we went to the supermarket. Mum was helping my P\u0101keh\u0101 grandma with some errands and offered to do the shopping for her\u2014me and my sister were in tow. I can\u2019t remember, maybe I was about 12 and my sister\u2014she\u2019s now a lawyer and whip-smart\u2014younger than me, was with me. I remember\u2014and it was all during this time\u2014how my mum\u2019s cheque was declined because \u201CWe don\u2019t take foreign cheques.\u201D I mean, it had the Bank of New Zealand\u2019s name written on that cheque and her address in Te \u0100nau. That was the climate at the time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000664\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI fear that we may be approaching that time again. I remember a man who stood up in this House and condemned Winston Peters for that. That man\u2019s name was Jim Bolger. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022 data-id=\u002226bfca0519baf5e0aa3e3969c9b640c8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000665\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002226bfca0519baf5e0aa3e3969c9b640c8\u0022\u003ERIMA NAKHLE (National\u2014Takanini) (17:57)\u003C/span\u003E: We just heard a leader of an Opposition party say the words bull s-h-i-t. It just makes me wonder\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E] And they\u2019re laughing right now. It just makes me wonder about the double standards that they\u2019re talking about with respect to this bill. It makes me wonder how many times we\u2019re just going to take their bullshish of theatrics, when they just want to get on a headline, when they just want to get on to the news. That\u2019s what I call \u201Cbullshish\u201D. I\u2019ve seen that since I\u2019ve come into Parliament. Yep, they\u2019re going to do more of the theatrics, walking out, and we\u2019re all upset, but how about we just calm down a little and stop the theatrics and talk about what this is. It\u2019s OK. We\u2019re only making English official. It\u2019s not the end of the world. How about some respect for you being an MP, for the people here being an MP, for the privilege that we have being an MP, and not abusing that privilege by saying disgusting words like bull s-h-i-t. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000666\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3b5598976f50c927e78069b68b1ead7\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. It\u2019s hard to know whether that was the member taking offence or otherwise. I just wanted to have it noted that there have been five previous instances of the word \u201Cbullshit\u201D being said in the House, including from Chris Penk, member of the National Party. So I wanted to clarify from you, Madam Speaker, as to whether you deem those words unparliamentary, since they have already been said five times in this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000667\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b211a21f91c4258723a0150377a8dfd9\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: To the member\u2019s point of order, the reason I didn\u2019t pull it up is because it is a word that has been used in Parliament previously. So I made the decision that it stood, all right? There are certain words that we won\u2019t take, and we wouldn\u2019t want to take that word in every bill and every speech. But sometimes, when tensions are high, it\u2019s OK.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000668\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis debate\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E] Quiet, please. I know it\u2019s been a very tense afternoon, but this debate is interrupted and is set down for resumption next sitting day. The House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000669\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EDebate interrupted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2026021986b2919fe6b0de6330000670\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 5.59 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"