"\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\u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000000\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022003413ef9ac12c3ff5ea497cd0e0895c\u0022\u003EStart of Sitting Day\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022003413ef9ac12c3ff5ea497cd0e0895c\u0022\u003EThursday, 26 March 2026\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000002\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EThe Speaker\u003C/span\u003E took the Chair at 2 p.m.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022ab1c073a38cc8998df63d73b89b9fe4f\u0022\u003EKarakia/Prayers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022 data-id=\u00223f84c6088e5918c9c83d98ec805c31e4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000004\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223f84c6088e5918c9c83d98ec805c31e4\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=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00221b06955e31d4904d30d062b3516761e5\u0022\u003EBusiness of the House\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e7b2a486170503d275110208e8b25430\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022 data-id=\u0022fe780ae279490c40d4ec60f9d70c0646\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fe780ae279490c40d4ec60f9d70c0646\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN (Minister of Health) (14:01)\u003C/span\u003E: on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003ELeader of the House\u003C/span\u003E: Next week, the House will consider the remaining stages of the Racing Industry (Closure of Greyhound Racing Industry) Amendment Bill and the first reading of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill. Wednesday will be a members\u2019 day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022eb80a9df83044b88a00c174ea7a61925\u0022 data-id=\u002214b2dc8f132ec4d3454f280861690433\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb80a9df83044b88a00c174ea7a61925\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002214b2dc8f132ec4d3454f280861690433\u0022\u003ETANGI UTIKERE (Labour\u2014Palmerston North) (14:01)\u003C/span\u003E: I thank the acting Leader of the House for his points there. Can I ask him, as it is the lead-up to Easter next week: is it the Government\u2019s intention to utilise urgency, as seems to be common practice, in order to progress the legislative agenda?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022 data-id=\u00228ecde87131c610af0fc916260d6d5d60\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228ecde87131c610af0fc916260d6d5d60\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN (Minister of Health) (14:01)\u003C/span\u003E: I wish the member opposite a very happy Easter in advance. This Government is a very busy Government. I wish all members all the best for Easter next week.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022baaa1888c40bfa8ee7679423e79442ec\u0022\u003EPersonal Explanations\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022507999a5a818a25b26e3793f24b8d4c2\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 4 to Minister, 12 March\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022 data-id=\u0022d11f8c43d0142050e7ef8beecae1ac82\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d11f8c43d0142050e7ef8beecae1ac82\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA (Minister for M\u0101ori Development) (14:01)\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to make a personal explanation to correct an answer I gave during oral questions on 12 March 2026.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f735f1a2ee8ea3719c240df7fa174ee7\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002297b33807b58d6f532e48fd4d0361619c\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: On 12 March 2026, I stated, \u201CWe have seen nearly 5,500 M\u0101ori come off the jobseeker benefit in the quarter ending September 2025.\u201D I should have said, \u201CWe have seen nearly 5,500 M\u0101ori come off the jobseeker into work for the quarter ending September 2025.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022408ee88806b535b751c3c7e4b2f0b64b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019m sure that little information for the House is fascinating to the member, but it was clearly using the House for overt political purposes, which is not appropriate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223f39ad5aa2888ae0cafb474b167cfcb5\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: Ask him to apologise, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002262c4c38cb425cf602edd2c438d20417d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, no\u2014he\u2019s not as good at it as you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a56c1e992aec3c73b4381c38e668e8e5\u0022\u003EPresentation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022fa2929d164c7ed0b569f63a71e092266\u0022\u003EPetitions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u0022c095a084d2099378c0cc7634eeaf92a8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c095a084d2099378c0cc7634eeaf92a8\u0022\u003ESPEAKER (14:02)\u003C/span\u003E: Two petitions have been delivered to the Clerk for presentation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002283e6d6cfb6d3cacc628122de353c0c72\u0022\u003ECLERK (14:02): \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItemSL1\u0022\u003EPetition of Elspeth Baker-Vevers requesting that the House initiate an inquiry into ADHD-related systemic harm and establish a National ADHD Strategy and Annual Funding Plan, and\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItemSL1\u0022\u003Epetition of Keely Kalirai Cairns requesting that the House urge the Government to include Hindi as a language option for NCEA and ensure that resources are available for teaching it at primary, intermediate, and secondary schools.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223f2997b63a64d2b42bfd9736cf42640f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Those petitions stand referred to the Petitions Committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00226deb5c90795b697b750317d9834237cb\u0022\u003EPapers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u0022d3a3f3366b8a56151336cc924b3bef6c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d3a3f3366b8a56151336cc924b3bef6c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER (14:03)\u003C/span\u003E: A paper has been delivered for presentation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226ca8db74203d6cc509ec18b4f207601c\u0022\u003ECLERK (14:03): \u003C/span\u003EGovernment response to the petition of Asjid Javed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a71f69d336ed386f0f2f93db6601460\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That petition is published under the authority of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022fd14bae0cfe87ee969601a30f4dbe294\u0022\u003ESelect Committee Reports\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022 data-id=\u0022599553f6f7cdcb99344831338ef276d9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022599553f6f7cdcb99344831338ef276d9\u0022\u003ESPEAKER (14:03)\u003C/span\u003E: A select committee report has been delivered for presentation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221987a17f53184fb9eeacd483032b5e7e\u0022\u003ECLERK (14:03): \u003C/span\u003EReport of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Report of the Ombudsman, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EOIA timeliness obligations: Compliance and practice in The Treasury Te Tai \u014Changa\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c5716cfd2fa3258bc10cb24de8d1be96\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The report is tabled for consideration. No bills have been introduced.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022ff68c929798f3849a80b8d018e97f18a\u0022\u003EOral Questions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a0e6297af2e72dcecf9dabb054e74550\u0022\u003EFinance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f57b561db2c5561e0d2cb15d60dfc099\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 1\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022 data-id=\u00228281a9d6bcbaa27507b6dfb070d19e65\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228281a9d6bcbaa27507b6dfb070d19e65\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Labour\u2014Wigram) (14:03)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Finance\u003C/span\u003E: Will the update on New Zealand\u2019s four fuel alert levels tomorrow include a change in alert levels, or will it be an explainer of what the levels are?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022 data-id=\u0022075fec4b20c2eb3759aa8a4d10434b34\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022075fec4b20c2eb3759aa8a4d10434b34\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance) (14:04)\u003C/span\u003E: The latter. We will not be changing the fuel response phase overnight, although it is the case that within a response phase, we will continue to take additional actions, some of which we will detail tomorrow. Tomorrow, we will also provide more information about the criteria we will use to assess when a change in the response phase is required. As the member would expect, these will include things like changes in the amount of fuel in the country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229ee72aa9c879b50bb644ca532b5d5ce4\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: Will the alert level framework allow for different alert levels to be applied to diesel, petrol, and jet fuel?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a59ca982328b5b94cc5c3208635e376a\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002242cd859213a3f2c81a55b2df4b8768de\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: How much warning will New Zealanders get before moving along the alert level framework?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226a2cf42ab17d3ccd3d4aada50dd74e2b\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: The member asks a very good question, because what we are determined to do is to ensure that people aren\u2019t in a situation where things change suddenly overnight in ways that aren\u2019t expected. Instead, what we are intending to have is a framework in which we are transparent about the assessment criteria, where we are clear with New Zealanders when an assessment is taking place, and then we announce the decision of what that assessment is. Part of that assessment will include engagement with industry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d183d357d6befee12ad00ea79f77efa3\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: Should New Zealanders expect a smooth, gradual progression through the alert levels, or could we jump through them quickly or skip levels given the current trajectory of some fuel stocks?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227e5839181ff31dffecbaa1d25402802e\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Our goal is to avoid ever getting to response phase 3 or 4. These are envisaged in the National Fuel Plan as the point at which prioritisation of fuel would be required. Our goal is to be doing enough to source the supply of fuel internationally so that does not become necessary, and, by taking sufficient actions in response phases 1 and 2, that we wouldn\u2019t reach phase 3 or 4. In direct answer to the member\u2019s question, I would not expect us to be skipping through the response phases.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d0c2458838ebccf9b26d9c1540da0d04\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: What groups has she met with to consult on how the fuel alert levels will operate?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002216ccda580f64a3c92176142c282390db\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve directed my officials at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, together with officials at the Ministry of Transport and officials at the Ministry for Primary Industries, to undertake extensive engagement with industry, both fuel companies themselves and fuel users, and a range of industry-affected entities. This morning, together with the Minister of Local Government, we briefed mayors and their staff from local government. I have individually met or had phone calls with a number of chief executives and other industry representatives.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228b5d074f3db56b3cab5dbf3cac1a6484\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: Has Shane Jones discussed Crown funding, including using the surplus in the petroleum or engine fuel monitoring levy fund, to increase diesel storage capacity at Marsden Point more quickly than would normally be the case?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224f7f69fbab8b25ada2e1bdcd614643c3\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m not responsible for which discussions Shane Jones may or may not have had. If the member wants to ask Shane Jones a question, she can.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227086af5fbb3e39f331be0119d9acd4f6\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: Is economist Brad Olsen right to warn New Zealanders that the crunch on diesel seems to be coming closer quicker, and is starting to become worrying, given the importance of diesel to the productive economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3af9d8cd8c9535ab2f41d20cd34f591\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: We\u2019re not sure that Brad Olsen has calculated his figures correctly, in that he isn\u2019t able to see the ships that are on the way and the amount of diesel that is in them, and therefore what is required. Critically, what New Zealanders need to understand is that we agreed that keeping a focus on diesel is very important, because obviously that is the fuel that so much of our industry and productive economy leans on and requires. It\u2019s also the case that that is the fuel that, internationally, has been most disrupted by events in the Middle East. It is the fuel which has, according to all of the studies that have done, the least elastic response to price, which is to say that people don\u2019t tend to substitute it in the way that they do petrol\u2014when the petrol price goes higher, people don\u2019t tend to use as much, whereas diesel users do not have as much choice. All of that, taken together, means we have a real focus on diesel. Something I would highlight for everyone is that in New Zealand, we legally require every company that is importing fuel into the country to have a minimum stockholding obligation (MSO) of at least 21 days\u2019 worth of diesel. What that means is that they face fines of millions of dollars if they breach that requirement. That is intended to provide safety and a buffer, and we would expect to be notified if there was any risk of those MSOs being breached, and we have not had any such notification.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002271d8acf3a6f0476999f9d03b4ae70e7d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e5b1df47e11f376c7c10b41780353fe9\u0022\u003EHon Shane Jones\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that the strategy that she refers to will reflect the lessons learnt from the COVID experience and avoid arbitrarily introducing restrictions on New Zealanders?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002248569636d747bfdf633efe2540d6904d\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: What a stupid question!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229352dbf1850bfe17873dea9dfbc41c1d\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: You were sitting at the Cabinet table, Shane!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223d8425a7a36cf1e76c94bb9e4d8e34f1\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Our goal, obviously, is that we recognise that fuel is very important to our economy\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002271d8acf3a6f0476999f9d03b4ae70e7d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222587898cc0cc00a97ba7430f8a5713b9\u0022\u003EHon Shane Jones\u003C/span\u003E: Jab\u2014jab. COVID failure!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022573d5a75cdf140be19b9575a8848256d\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and so taking steps now\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223076decb69e8d061156f57e2e6be1da4\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: You were sitting at the Cabinet table!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e1de7601e5a36981a3a7fb6b9945d277\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: You forgot where you were, Jonesy!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002289727f254bbb260595a05b86d1496b3f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just a moment. This is a very important matter that troubles a lot of people throughout the country. We will hear answers in silence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226b99476d584f47b19420b8154e6947dc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229c0b596ea8cdab2f5c2425cc584ffb20\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: We recognise that fuel is vital to driving our economy, supporting jobs and incomes, so that is why we are taking a precautionary and prudent approach now, because it is the case that if we were to reach response phase 3 or 4, then the potential disruption to New Zealanders and industry could be significant. While we are doing everything we can to prevent getting to that phase, in the meantime we are conscious that we have the gift of time to work through what that prioritisation would look like, and we have taken an approach that says we will iterate that together with industry. Noting that, in the past, when arbitrary classifications have been offered by Government, there has been very good feedback and engagement from others who have said, \u201CActually, that needs to change.\u201D So when we offer our indicative prioritisation, we do expect there to be feedback from a range of stakeholders, and we will be listening to business and industry so that we get it right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c213688fa12d0f2f61e2e0ecba2fbc5b\u0022\u003ESocial Development and Employment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00220616d7ef68acc88e750c2bc1f6b73f1c\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 2\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022420f72e8bcc84c869a366ff712af8e49\u0022 data-id=\u0022aa66d621ff1d4f2bbb4deabb46c0c020\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022420f72e8bcc84c869a366ff712af8e49\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022aa66d621ff1d4f2bbb4deabb46c0c020\u0022\u003EHANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE (Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014Hauraki-Waikato) (14:10)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for Social Development and Employment\u003C/span\u003E: What funding increases, if any, can food bank and food rescue organisations expect to receive in Budget 2026 to support the one in three households who are struggling to put kai on the table, as reported by the Hunger Monitor, during rising fuel price pressures?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224680dcac294f4cd5bdd3a5a7ed5a3bb9\u0022 data-id=\u0022b8d8e93d595a0cbd1edac43dae52bf5c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224680dcac294f4cd5bdd3a5a7ed5a3bb9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b8d8e93d595a0cbd1edac43dae52bf5c\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment) (14:11)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for Social Development and Employment\u003C/span\u003E: We know that many families are being hit hard by the global fuel price shock, that is why are delivering targeted support for low and middle income working parents, by increasing the in-work tax credit. I\u2019m unable to comment on Budget decisions prior to the Budget.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022420f72e8bcc84c869a366ff712af8e49\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b713e9f4576462f63e534fb1cd057283\u0022\u003EHana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke\u003C/span\u003E: Does she accept that rising fuel prices will have a big impact on food prices, and, if so, will the Government be offering any additional financial support to beneficiaries, superannuants, and students so that they can continue to afford kai?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224680dcac294f4cd5bdd3a5a7ed5a3bb9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d9de64f323ce0f2e8594b31e44a3de4e\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: Obviously, the duration of the crisis in the Middle East will determine the impact and the level of impact, but I would note that on 1 April beneficiaries and superannuants will have an increase in assistance. I also note that the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has support available to individuals in hardship that need assistance to meet immediate needs such as food. So there is assistance coming on 1 April, and there is the ongoing assistance that MSD provides.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022420f72e8bcc84c869a366ff712af8e49\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295c7aed68428110bf62ae697c86101a8\u0022\u003EHana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke\u003C/span\u003E: If the Government cannot offer any financial support for low-income wh\u0101nau, can they commit to a 165 percent funding boost for food banks to make up for the 165 percent increase in people receiving food support since 2020?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224680dcac294f4cd5bdd3a5a7ed5a3bb9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228b7c2d81ad6854152ef05ea6b82cef6b\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: I did, in fact, in the previous question, note that additional assistance would be available on 1 April\u2014that the Consumers Price Index increase will occur for the beneficiaries, and the superannuation increase will also occur. So there are increases about to occur. However, I note also that MSD still has that ongoing support available for those individuals in hardship that need assistance, and that does include for food.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022933a573c5ecea0c7b8f83ec651857ca4\u0022\u003EEducation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002212bdaf68b8df65a15a79a0dca8942fd3\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 3\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022 data-id=\u002281ad0fc4a93b69093f2ae54d82bea31a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002281ad0fc4a93b69093f2ae54d82bea31a\u0022\u003ECARL BATES (National\u2014Whanganui) (14:13)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Education\u003C/span\u003E: What announcement has she made regarding New Zealand\u2019s national qualification?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022 data-id=\u0022b165517a4cce14dbd33ce0ceb98d8f16\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b165517a4cce14dbd33ce0ceb98d8f16\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD (Minister of Education) (14:14)\u003C/span\u003E: Today, I announced the first major step in rebuilding New Zealand\u2019s senior secondary qualification, with Cabinet agreeing to major structural decisions to replace NCEA with a new system that is clear, consistent across schools, and internationally comparable. The new qualification across years 12 and 13 and the stand-alone foundational award in literacy and numeracy will be phased in from 2028 for the foundational award; 2029 for the year 12 qualification; and 2030 for year 13. This is about restoring confidence in our national qualification and ensuring it supports deeper, knowledge-rich learning so every student can succeed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cbbbc6b041316357e204178a9aad2f8e\u0022\u003ECarl Bates\u003C/span\u003E: Why is the Government replacing NCEA?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eb5bd1d33ccbfe27926fa0dead087ef0\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Well, for too long the current system has struggled to provide clarity and confidence. NCEA has become increasingly fragmented and inconsistent across schools, and too often students have been able to accumulate credits without building the knowledge and skills they need for the future. It\u2019s not fair on our young people, and it does not give parents, employers, or tertiary providers the confidence that they should have in a school qualification. We\u2019re putting that right by building a system with high expectations, consistency, and student achievement at the core.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002233fe983144b331b531871728113b18c5\u0022\u003ECarl Bates\u003C/span\u003E: How will the curriculum drive what is being assessed in the new curriculum?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002222aec667c77d52bba26fe0d28566070e\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: As we speak, 86 writing groups of writers and subject experts schools across the country are creating a senior secondary curriculum in 175 subject areas. This national curriculum will be internationally benchmarked and will drive what is assessed in our new national qualification. All students will receive deep learning in nationally consistent subjects to ensure they are set up for success beyond school.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227c5b65578975c3c09be90c98acbf4957\u0022\u003ECarl Bates\u003C/span\u003E: What feedback has the Government received from the sector about these changes?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e6a8db663d82d1a012a90737d2063d71\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: This work has been shaped by extensive sector engagement; more than 10,000 New Zealanders took part in consultation, alongside detailed input from a principal advisory group and sector experts. There was clear support for structural change to our national qualification that is simpler, more consistent, and better aligned to what students need for the future. A principal wrote to me following this morning\u2019s announcement to say, \u201CWell done and thank you for being courageous and following through on this. It will make a huge difference and the positive generational shift\u201D [\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E]\u2014the email; the text isn\u2019t quite right, but it basically says that it will make a huge difference\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219ac829fe90a1bb08c014f102bec8eff\u0022\u003EHon Member: \u003C/span\u003ECorrect it!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022be3bbbc6ad8f50dff83f633dc4272eb1\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and a positive generational shift that we\u2019ve been looking for. I would be very careful, the Opposition, making accusations of which principal that came from. We have amazing principals across New Zealand who are all doing an exceptional job and they all deserve our respect.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220750364c2c1444d0ae00bced720f964e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002290a9627359952386f01ccc8258141e52\u0022\u003EHon Ginny Andersen\u003C/span\u003E: Will her next NCEA announcement have any of the detail that we were all hoping to see in this NCEA announcement?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aa0b2404efb4bdc05b7f6edf142b6e38\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: We are taking the time to get the details right. Consultation\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222eaeb6d8b20ed7fb89976e88e83f6dae\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: There\u2019s not much point asking a question if you don\u2019t want to hear the answer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237b40d11275f4dba8e36c41507f8a1c5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022863faef24b2d7aa90b775f994d0b2f70\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Genuine consultation is about making sure you take time to get the detail right and properly engaging in the complex interplay of technical decisions that need to be taken. We\u2019ve put together a technical advisory group to work alongside our professional advisory group, to take this very complex set of decisions. It\u2019s this good process that\u2019s required to get this right. Perhaps if this good process had been followed the last time NCEA was refreshed, it wouldn\u2019t have been such an unmitigated disaster\u2014take note.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00224370665d08df114fd38554382df2b19c\u0022\u003EM\u0101ori Development\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00222f178e7f4be4848fef56dd269d46ed80\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 4\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022 data-id=\u0022008cbcc80fbd580d0d7e95434b796c45\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022008cbcc80fbd580d0d7e95434b796c45\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON (Labour) (14:18)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for M\u0101ori Development\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister stand by his Government\u2019s track record on M\u0101ori employment, and, if so, why? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022 data-id=\u0022a30e16fa52dea7587d3eaa7a9b2d5ebb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a30e16fa52dea7587d3eaa7a9b2d5ebb\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA (Minister for M\u0101ori Development) (14:18)\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I stand by the Government\u2019s track record on M\u0101ori employment, particularly given that between 5,000 and 6,000 M\u0101ori came off the jobseeker benefit and into work in the quarter ending September 2025\u2014a fantastic result, in my view.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fccd09c0719e7c9f5219c64425ee536f\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: Does he expect the M\u0101ori unemployment rate to increase even further, given the announcement of the proposed closure of food-processing plants, including the announced closure of McCain\u2019s in Hastings?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224ea662ae16d933ecc8024d3c64f1772e\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: As this House knows, we have been absolutely focused on enabling a number of fast-track Act projects throughout the country, whether or not they are geothermal, aquaculture, property developments, or others. Some of those fast-track projects\u2014in fact, nearly 25 of the 149 in Schedule 2 of that Act\u2014are either M\u0101ori-partnered or -led. It\u2019s absolutely marvellous that Ministers\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002271d8acf3a6f0476999f9d03b4ae70e7d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022381ce3a85a9173ad19aff4eef3915d5b\u0022\u003EHon Shane Jones\u003C/span\u003E: Hear, hear!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022208f191e0e8c5f475a7df7e21bb0f3c7\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014exemplary Ministers like Minister Jones\u2014have announced matters such as the\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002271d8acf3a6f0476999f9d03b4ae70e7d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229d352ffd32aa31a76c453475fdc4fafe\u0022\u003EHon Shane Jones\u003C/span\u003E: Mine! Mine!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225407b16ad98304c5574fac478971ec52\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014geothermal strategy. Of course, there is a range of other quarrying and mining initiatives that employ M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223a08d846a594f7e15471109d98e23a71\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. [\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022be0b531ec87bbfc5d5da37b5880ab824\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Points of order are heard in silence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002244146b5339026cf9e6f6a327826ce281\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Minister hasn\u2019t even addressed the question. The question was specific: does he expect the M\u0101ori unemployment rate to increase even further, given the announcement of the proposed closure of food-processing plants, including the announced closure of McCain\u2019s in Hastings? He hasn\u2019t addressed it even slightly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229fefd83014d921e3ec488ea30dcbd142\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the question would be: can he address it? I\u2019ve got to sit here and listen\u2014I\u2019ve heard his answer, and certainly what was going through my head was how on earth could he know what the ethnic or racial mix of the employment profile for those particular factories are? He can\u2019t answer it. Have you got another supplementary?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d912ab3aac47f6dc5c30f08116f2cf73\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: What support, if any, will be provided to M\u0101ori in South Auckland, where M\u0101ori unemployment is at 20.6 percent\u2014almost four times the national average\u2014under this Minister\u2019s watch?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229d1471aee137b4b1658cb48c487f4f9e\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: As this House has heard on several occasions from across different Ministers, there are a number of initiatives that the Ministers in this Government and this Parliament, in fact, have encouraged to ensure that there are more jobs created throughout M\u0101ori communities and a range of other New Zealand communities, as well, whether or not that\u2019s through the fast-track processes; through some support around the Regional Infrastructure Fund led by Minister Jones; or through some of the mahi that, ultimately, Minister Stanford has been leading around education to create a whole range of talented, bright, young M\u0101ori graduates from schools. They may seek work and build enterprise in New Zealand, or they may go overseas and seek work and build enterprise overseas\u2014and where has the old Willie Jackson gone, when 25 years ago, as an Alliance MP, he came to New York City and saw my overseas dreams and was absolutely encouraging of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022de520c9b906247e5ae2234aa372f9d76\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: How\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002285ba264d5ef57abf5b4e64cdb7edb804\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just a minute, Mr Jackson. All right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b29742d0fec457ec45a4d0d94466b5e0\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: How will current policies address the needs of M\u0101ori in West Auckland, where unemployment sits at 17.3 percent?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ca4a016a9b70177322948d06da03c379\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: You see, that\u2019s the challenge that the member opposite has on a range of matters: he thinks that the Government is the solution to everything. On this side of the House, we don\u2019t. We think that it is to enable interest rates and inflation rates to come down, to stop the wasteful spending that was curated under previous Governments, and to ensure that the business and enterprise regulatory framework is available to create jobs and not just handouts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b558cec019bb0b7c8601f6b3ec06dee9\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to ask again: how did the Minister address that question? The question was specific: how will the current policy address the needs of M\u0101ori in West Auckland, where unemployment sits at 17.3 percent? Surely, he hasn\u2019t addressed the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022155fd6a977663376dec2722d33958fe6\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, he listed some Government policies. Have you got another supplementary?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222b7aa2986a090641c27542624045cbfc\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve got plenty of supplementaries, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022397163183fdbe119df7ecf9e0e47d815\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, that\u2019s good.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222d9047b70403da7a6b79d6e12bf481fa\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: But to the\u2014I still don\u2019t understand that response, but \u003Cspan lang=\u0022mi\u0022\u003Ekei te pai\u003C/span\u003E, Mr Speaker. To\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221b8fe00baa7d49bf921da86198efcbd9\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, hang on a minute\u2014just a minute. Mr Jackson, you won\u2019t be carrying on if you want to challenge like that. I don\u2019t judge the questions\u2014I do initially with the primaries, but not so much the supplementaries\u2014and I certainly have no responsibility for the answers. But I can work out whether or not there has been a reasonable addressing of the question. That\u2019s what I\u2019m required to do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d6d63879d43a0a3deeeafbd8a339d4d9\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: What does he say to the Hastings mayor, Wendy Schollum, who said she is \u201Cdevastated\u201D about the closure of McCain\u2019s and \u201Cdesperately concerned\u201D about the families who will be impacted?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cbf95ed71ed8965eaffcc1adc3968cd7\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: No one in this House wants to see large industries shut down. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve been absolutely focused on making sure that we build the infrastructure that this country requires to move and to, basically, build for the future. That\u2019s why I expect members opposite to support all our infrastructure activities around new schools and classrooms across the country; around new roads of national significance; and around a whole range of economic initiatives that this Government is undertaking, including the mahi that Minister Jones has been leading in the regional infrastructure space, like mussel factories and spat factories.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d7b565391fbf732d2b7602a944e25d31\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: How can he keep claiming the Government is delivering for M\u0101ori when the clearest delivery so far has been more M\u0101ori out of work and things getting worse, not better, under this Minister\u2019s watch?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226faf82ea5d1a6a87e889d0e163fad0fd\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: On Friday, I had the great opportunity to go with the hard-working East Coast MP, Dana Kirkpatrick, to a wonderful place called Kawerau. It\u2019s a place that welcomes industry, it\u2019s a place that welcomes business, and it\u2019s a place that welcomes hard work. The geothermal facility opened there by Obayashi Corporation, alongside Eastland Generation and T\u016Bwharetoa mai Kawerau ki te Tai, absolutely exemplifies M\u0101ori development creating jobs, creating business, and actually moving the country forward. That\u2019s the sort of mahi that this Government is into and wants to support in the future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229a114751b95786d508ae83f2eb6da553\u0022\u003EHon David Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that sensible economic management is important and beneficial no matter your ethnic background; that if you have a Government that spends carefully, that manages the economy well, that\u2019s good for everybody, but if you have a Government that splashes the cash and drives inflation and interest rates and puts us all into debt, that\u2019s bad for M\u0101ori as much as anyone else?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002216ce94863eb9ede934c50e30ad542772\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: Absolutely. It\u2019s absolutely warming that the members of this coalition Government want to see all Kiwis, including M\u0101ori, succeed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00226c17eb9fc88c9099f98f81ed8d525e38\u0022\u003EHealth\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002225572821247fce0602084441b9a02ca0\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 5\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022297bc572c27f45308dffb067ca3e7915\u0022 data-id=\u0022ff3c7e8d6e5fa1907d842a47b12967f2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022297bc572c27f45308dffb067ca3e7915\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ff3c7e8d6e5fa1907d842a47b12967f2\u0022\u003EDr HAMISH CAMPBELL (National\u2014Ilam) (14:25)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Health\u003C/span\u003E: What recent announcements has he made about preparing the healthcare system for winter?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022 data-id=\u002248461fe9113638edd6317844fad2d2ff\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002248461fe9113638edd6317844fad2d2ff\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN (Minister of Health) (14:25)\u003C/span\u003E: Last week, I announced that Health New Zealand will invest an additional $25 million to prepare our healthcare system for higher demand over the busy winter months by boosting hospital capacity and increasing staffing. This important investment in preparation for winter will deliver up to 378 additional front-line staff, 71 extra winter hospital beds, and up to 567 short-stay beds in aged residential care to free up hospital capacity. The plan focuses on four key priorities: prevention, strengthening primary care, improving emergency department (ED) and hospital flow, and supporting timely discharge. By planning early, expanding capacity, and supporting our front-line teams, we are providing the tools needed to better manage increased demand during winter and deliver the care New Zealanders need.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022297bc572c27f45308dffb067ca3e7915\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022936a920b825e1400f91fe10e57d5bd8a\u0022\u003EDr Hamish Campbell\u003C/span\u003E: How will this investment support improved performance in our emergency departments?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002252581b103583b07236fa69e1175b0d0f\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN\u003C/span\u003E: We know that following the reintroduction of our health targets, Kiwis are spending less time in EDs across the country, with the latest quarterly results for October to December 2025 showing 74.2 percent of patients being admitted, discharged, or transferred within 6 hours, up from 72.1 percent at the same time the year before. However, we know there is still more work to be done, particularly as we head into the winter months. Our hospitals will face increased demand during winter due to a growing aging population. By increasing capacity and front-line staffing, we\u2019re helping to prepare the healthcare system for this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022297bc572c27f45308dffb067ca3e7915\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c2f775cd667951f8eeb7e22ad3c7dc41\u0022\u003EDr Hamish Campbell\u003C/span\u003E: What role does prevention have in improving performance over winter?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c31c6e0e327e6cad058782f7a53737a8\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN\u003C/span\u003E: The plan to prepare our hospitals for winter ensures a stronger focus on prevention. We know that prevention is key to reducing pressure on our hospitals. That\u2019s why this plan is prioritising more flu vaccination opportunities, targeted support for older people and those at higher risk, access to anti-virals, stronger vaccination support in aged care, and easier access to multiple vaccinations in a single visit. This is alongside our work to strengthen primary care by launching a 24/7 digital consult service and expanding urgent and after-hours care clinics up and down the country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022297bc572c27f45308dffb067ca3e7915\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224725132462bbbff9f0bf35148f30a801\u0022\u003EDr Hamish Campbell\u003C/span\u003E: What else is the Government doing to ensure hospitals can better manage demand over winter?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002276109ca9c1c74181a1e2734802d7f46f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022be82146f797a6130188e3bd694ba9932\u0022\u003EHon SIMEON BROWN\u003C/span\u003E: Alongside increasing capacity in our hospitals, this plan to prepare our hospitals for winter places a strong emphasis on improving patient flow and supporting timely discharge. That includes expanding Hospital in the Home services so more patients can recover safely at home, increasing the availability of transitional and aged residential care beds, and strengthening allied health support to help patients return home sooner. We\u2019re also improving weekend discharge processes and ensuring better coordination across the system so beds are available to those who need them the most. I want to thank our hard-working doctors, nurses, and allied professionals in our hospitals, who work incredibly hard each and every day. This plan is to support them and the incredible work they do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a155d4dd425c638001a7aafc341b90e1\u0022\u003EHousing\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002234a4aeb36efd74b3693b364a3c9880e7\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 6\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022 data-id=\u00220782eeac36f3d4bf743ca2dd92e532f4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220782eeac36f3d4bf743ca2dd92e532f4\u0022\u003ETAMATHA PAUL (Green\u2014Wellington Central) (14:28)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Housing\u003C/span\u003E: Is he concerned about the report from Cotality that showed the average rent-to-income ratio is as high as 28 percent; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022 data-id=\u0022626ad6ef28e5b4078c034aa8d42023e4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022626ad6ef28e5b4078c034aa8d42023e4\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA (Associate Minister of Housing) (14:29)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Housing\u003C/span\u003E: I am advised that rent-to-income ratios were 27.9 percent in quarter four 2025, according to Cotality, a reduction from 28.2 percent in quarter four 2023. The measure has stayed relatively flat during our time in Government. I\u2019m also advised that under the previous Government, the measure grew from 26.1 percent to 28.2 percent in 2023. This matches with other measures that prove that under this Government, rents are plainly more affordable for many. The social housing register is down, the share of first-home buyers in the market was at record levels at the end of last year, and we have far less tamariki and wh\u0101nau in emergency housing. The member may also read the rest of the Cotality report, which shows that housing affordability has improved to its best level in almost a decade due to stable housing prices, rising wages, and falling mortgage rates. It says that in quarter four last year, the house-price-to-income ratio was 7.2, down from above 10 in 2021. This Government doesn\u2019t just talk about it; we deliver on housing affordability.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d17e2563ebecdeebdc6b6261263113ad\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: What does he think would be an affordable average rent-to-income ratio?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002257fc727e45dfb786d04d350a0ca71fa5\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: What we know is that housing affordability and rent affordability has come down, whether or not it\u2019s come down from 3.1 percent in the year to January 2026 according to Trade Me data or a range of other data and evidence-based facts that show that rents have either stabilised or are coming down slightly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220259a4909831a2a5566482d51c406744\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: How is the Government making progress on rental affordability when renters in places like Rotorua, Gisborne, and Tauranga are spending more that 30 percent of their income on rents?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022701b087f8814a2425563629030516897\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: What we know is that a range of data points show that credible measures of rent price changes show that rents are flat, whether or not it\u2019s the stock measure, which is the most well-known measure for rental affordability, which shows rents are just under 1 percent in the year to January 2026, which is lower than inflation. What we won\u2019t do\u2014what we definitely won\u2019t do\u2014is start going around putting rent controls on everyone.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226596cc0e073a941cecb045a715e07c0c\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: What evidence does he have that rent controls would do anything other than put a limit on rents that New Zealanders already can\u2019t afford?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022271afc2032bfabbd55ee5ffc945527d6\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: How many cities need to try and fail at solving their rental challenges through rent controls for the Greens to learn? Rent controls don\u2019t work. The Greens\u2019 housing plan, in general, would make the housing market in New Zealand much worse.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b25af024415958db856a02729bcbbc1b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, no. Just talk about the Government\u2019s answer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002252227b49724fff655afe2f51017ae888\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: OK. The member claims to believe in evidence-based policy, but, in fact, the evidence shows that rents have stabilised or come down over the last couple of years. Actually, we\u2019re really proud of not only doing that but seeing the social housing register come down and also getting rid of motel generation, birthed long-term by the Opposition, of course.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022de15e9a9fb5ba6ee48777c7ff2985ada\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: Does he have confidence that his Government\u2019s policies are working to lower house prices when Treasury is forecasting house prices to increase 6 to 7 percent a year for the next four years?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022177b3af05ab0eb5688341db8d193d832\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: What I am confident about is under the leadership of the Minister of Housing, Chris Bishop, and the Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, we\u2019ve seen the average per square metre build rate of K\u0101inga Ora come down, unlike the previous group.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229ec6b21860ff42a8bfcfbf955e54750a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226610a7256105f0bb685b25ee7b56536c\u0022\u003ETamatha Paul\u003C/span\u003E: What policies does the Government have to permanently lower rents besides engineering a recession and scaring 200 New Zealanders out of the country every single day?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227adcce9ea38a8c27cda67de79b3f4ab\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: That comes from a very dark and dank place, that comment\u2014very dingy. What we\u2019re all about is making sure we\u2019ve got the basics sorted, infrastructure in place, better energy prices, \u003Cspan lang=\u0022mi\u0022\u003Ee mihi ana ki a koe e te Matua Tarar\u0101 \u003C/span\u003E[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EI congratulate you, Dalmatian gentleman\u003C/span\u003E], and all the necessary steps and phases to ensure that, actually, housing is affordable. Guess what! That facts say so. The evidence says so.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e6fb09946733a5fc9bab5c7474e07c2d\u0022\u003ESocial Development and Employment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d77557d5c5da1cd089ccdab1949d9843\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 7\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002229b8d22182614a1b8b6e8ef03bf61503\u0022 data-id=\u00225a8eef0a7cbc55a97f528571287a7f4f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229b8d22182614a1b8b6e8ef03bf61503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225a8eef0a7cbc55a97f528571287a7f4f\u0022\u003EHon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour) (14:33)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for Social Development and Employment\u003C/span\u003E: How many people, if any, receiving benefits or superannuation have children in their care and are also in paid employment?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224680dcac294f4cd5bdd3a5a7ed5a3bb9\u0022 data-id=\u0022aa83efa45aaae8d6ecf0209ea04ae89e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224680dcac294f4cd5bdd3a5a7ed5a3bb9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022aa83efa45aaae8d6ecf0209ea04ae89e\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment) (14:33)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for Social Development and Employment\u003C/span\u003E: I can advise that there are more than 47,000 working-age people who receive a main benefit from the Ministry of Social Development who have children in their care and who are receiving some other form of income.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229b8d22182614a1b8b6e8ef03bf61503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e59d09535e36b4a5a45b46cd436b098\u0022\u003EHon Willow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: How many people who receive superannuation or a benefit have children in their care and who are also in paid employment will get the $50 a week fuel relief?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224680dcac294f4cd5bdd3a5a7ed5a3bb9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229768f0be9250f88ca5bd4091d5cdff1a\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: We acknowledge the impact of the global fuel price shock on families and households and businesses right across New Zealand. The $50 increase in the in-work tax credit is aimed at low and middle income working families with dependent children. We know that around 143,000 families will receive the full $50 weekly increase. That will include 48 percent of children in material hardship. The policy is targeted, timely, and temporary to minimise inflation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229b8d22182614a1b8b6e8ef03bf61503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002280b943c216d77aa730c85a88dcfcbba2\u0022\u003EHon Willow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: Has she informed the Minister of Finance that there are many families on a benefit while working and caring for children, given the Minister of Finance\u2019s statement that \u201CI\u2019d also note, working families face the obligation to get to and from work each day. Beneficiaries do not face that obligation.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224680dcac294f4cd5bdd3a5a7ed5a3bb9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a5691404f403fdd471695ee8ac7b2543\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, on behalf of the Minister, I\u2019m sure the Minister of Finance is very aware of that, and we are very, very careful to ensure that what we are doing is targeted, timely, and temporary to minimise inflationary pressures. We have learnt from the excesses of COVID\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002271d8acf3a6f0476999f9d03b4ae70e7d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f8cbaa993cceda17a938f4ed27f181df\u0022\u003EHon Shane Jones\u003C/span\u003E: COVID. Fail\u2014fail.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224680dcac294f4cd5bdd3a5a7ed5a3bb9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002268fb3acf0f8f5bc3361a9fd0005f27e7\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and we are ensuring that we are supporting our low and middle income working families with dependent children.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002271d8acf3a6f0476999f9d03b4ae70e7d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227aa9bd53593655537ec697cfb15a0e68\u0022\u003EHon Shane Jones\u003C/span\u003E: Feral\u2014feral.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f9db3c157f3496f5f78c045f06311d12\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s enough. Just a moment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022705f88ac1f932ae1ac77e72fd66cebf5\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: Well, that\u2019s actually\u2014he\u2019s calling out\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227acea4f421c52bce7550039f92606e86\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I beg your pardon.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222d1053738ab81824955a199630fc7e44\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: Don\u2019t worry. I\u2019ll talk to you later.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002286799775923ff46402d5f445673c4e58\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m certainly not worried.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229b8d22182614a1b8b6e8ef03bf61503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226ef7d7af35902eaa15e8810fba8b3c44\u0022\u003EHon Willow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: Did she advocate for additional support for struggling sole parents, disabled parents, parents of disabled children, and grandparents raising grandchildren who are receiving superannuation or a benefit but are also working part time?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224680dcac294f4cd5bdd3a5a7ed5a3bb9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b47017953cd68cf2b0a6ce03b9dbd18a\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: As I noted in one of my earlier answers, approximately 1.5 million New Zealanders will receive an increase in their assistance from 1 April through the annual general adjustment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229b8d22182614a1b8b6e8ef03bf61503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022244e1b73ca829fac790d1e0cc9e9626d\u0022\u003EHon Willow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: Does she accept that the 1 April changes will not be enough for people receiving superannuation or benefits to adapt to the fuel price increases, as they are based on previous inflation and don\u2019t take into account this current pain?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224680dcac294f4cd5bdd3a5a7ed5a3bb9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227dfab8832c4b2fe54a6504f197bdc98a\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: We acknowledge that the impact of the global fuel price shock is going to be on families, on households, on businesses, and on industries right across New Zealand. There will be an increase in 1 April for beneficiaries and superannuitants. Our targeted, temporary, and timely $50 tax credit increase is targeted at middle income working families with dependent children.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229b8d22182614a1b8b6e8ef03bf61503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a03ea9dc53e3492375039a8e15ad6037\u0022\u003EHon Willow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: Why, when the whole country continues to struggle with the cost of living\u2014now exacerbated by the fuel crisis\u2014did the Government not ensure that financial support go to the most at risk of poverty to get to and from work, retain their employment, and to get their kids to school?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224680dcac294f4cd5bdd3a5a7ed5a3bb9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002242ad0c7d1e10285f850955e3c9a14dc8\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: We have learnt, from the past excesses of the COVID responses, that if the response is not targeted, timely, and temporary, the whole of New Zealand will suffer with increased inflation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022ca4bf79d9cd3eeb09b06e872c8008755\u0022\u003EHousing\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00221eca40d039a9f412e13e4b5cfd012198\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 8\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022 data-id=\u00225518291f6bc44bc511c444f3840a6689\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225518291f6bc44bc511c444f3840a6689\u0022\u003ERIMA NAKHLE (National\u2014Takanini) (14:38)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EAssociate Minister of Housing\u003C/span\u003E: What recent announcements has he made about improving outcomes for rentals and landlords?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022 data-id=\u0022e3e8466799d1ce5d1e70094d07bfdece\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e3e8466799d1ce5d1e70094d07bfdece\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA (Associate Minister of Housing) (14:38)\u003C/span\u003E: The Government has announced proposals to develop new legislation to establish a light-touch regulatory regime to address issues with property managers within New Zealand\u2019s rental market. The proposed regime will introduce minimal standards for conduct and competence, provide effective complaints and disciplinary processes, and support better dispute resolution but not be over the top. This supports the Government\u2019s priority of improving the rental market to make it easier to be a landlord and easier to be a tenant. I look forward to introducing a bill to the House and welcome the one and only thing that I saw in the Greens\u2019 housing plan, which suggests\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a5d4c10ec5cdeed02e19f7e950d4641e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, no. That\u2019s enough. Thank you very much.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228e921c9c717f14be7a1051ef5411a9fe\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014creating a national register of these property managers. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002253ac864ba00eb092276f4aed68bb671f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you very much. We\u2019ll move straight away to question No. 9.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002221aca4c4ce50dd0e72772d15c20ea93f\u0022\u003EHousing\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022fc28ed51d67bc216f09464b3c576706a\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 9\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022 data-id=\u0022432372e5aa0919a87a86daae8b5fd104\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022432372e5aa0919a87a86daae8b5fd104\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH (Green) (14:39)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EAssociate Minister of Housing\u003C/span\u003E: Does he accept the findings of the Auditor-General\u2019s report into emergency housing; if so, will he give any direction to the Ministry of Social Development to change their practices?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022 data-id=\u002292049c74811b07b9b1d636800b6ce556\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002292049c74811b07b9b1d636800b6ce556\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA (Associate Minister of Housing) (14:40)\u003C/span\u003E: I welcome improvement ideas from the Office of the Auditor-General and want to tautoko the Auditor-General\u2019s acknowledgement of the progress made to date. There are now clear pathways and systems for those in genuine and immediate need to access housing assistance, not just hurling people into emergency hotels like on Ulster Street in Hamilton. More so than ever before, agencies are collaborating to identify, address, and prioritise these needs. T\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f9c98dcb7df2045c76e0f548c7ebb2b0\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: How many applications for emergency housing were unfairly declined for \u201Cunreasonably causing or contributing to their immediate emergency housing need\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224d31842422422a117dcb3655e3c51b12\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: It is noted that in the Auditor-General\u2019s report, there was a call for more consistency around the declines, but the vast majority of people who apply for emergency housing either get emergency housing\u2014between 60 percent and two-thirds of applicants\u2014or they receive some sort of housing assistance. I welcome further inquiry into that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022327a7fc32b4b4611bb023e4ad63199e8\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Does he accept that in the third quarter of 2025 in Auckland, for example, the decline rate for emergency housing applications reached up to 63 percent?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c7f4e593e31a3549f0464f9120f2ee1e\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019d recommend, for a specific quarter in a specific town and a specific decline rate, that that matter is put through the written parliamentary questions process. But what I will say is this: the vast majority of people who seek some sort of housing assistance through the Ministry of Social Development get it, and we have seen an absolute reduction in the number of kids and wh\u0101nau living in emergency housing to be in social housing, in private housing, or in transitional housing. I think that\u2019s something that the Green Party and others should acknowledge us for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cc2a132ba34835407ebf9159274bbb15\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Is he confident that in our biggest city in the country, most emergency housing applications are approved?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f5bf3f223dd514748ebb0a3ea4ce0a33\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: As we know, emergency housing is a last resort for those with genuine need for short-term assistance and temporary accommodation in most towns and cities in New Zealand. It is not a first resort\u2014what it was between 2017 and 2023. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve seen a huge decrease in the number of wh\u0101nau who are living in the dark, dank, dingy conditions in places like Fenton Street in Rotorua and emergency hotels throughout the country. The vast majority of applicants for emergency housing get supported in some way, shape, or form\u2014and for that, I am very thankful.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022077ad8b5e1223e419859767b9c06c058\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Will he, following the Auditor-General\u2019s report into emergency housing, restore discretion to case managers so that they can consider whether declining an emergency housing application will worsen someone\u2019s situation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002235576e94ece7571d018d83c6333b9ffd\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: The member opposite should take some time to actually read the eligibility criteria for emergency housing before such questions. What I will say again, and repeat for this House, is that the vast majority of people who seek emergency housing get supported, and I\u2019m very proud to see the number of people on the social housing register decline massively after quadrupling under the previous Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225455ea0394978a3756b2148ecc893aa9\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Is it accurate to say that the vast majority of people in Auckland are getting access to emergency housing when they apply for it?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d5b13d601794bb282d99453116ad395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221ae61c3ff1be115fc822336e83636943\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: Again, that is a matter very specific to a town\u2014that I recommend the member sends a written parliamentary question for. What I will say is this: hundreds\u2014nay, thousands\u2014of Aucklanders in the central area of Auckland receive some sort of housing assistance, whether or not it\u2019s emergency housing, social housing, living in places like Te M\u0101t\u0101wai and HomeGround. And, actually, we will continue to provide that level of support.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222da37bb4b67b5792b746cf831b9af421\u0022\u003EPrime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00226ca0ddb5ceb768eee1028c0e9e34a8d1\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 10\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022 data-id=\u0022b6c621e9d4bbdea86b5f69ccb2d561c1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b6c621e9d4bbdea86b5f69ccb2d561c1\u0022\u003ESIMON COURT (ACT) (14:44)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EPrime Minister\u003C/span\u003E: Does he stand by all of the 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=\u0022d93dec299a24c45a55ed664441240e2f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d93dec299a24c45a55ed664441240e2f\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR (Deputy Prime Minister) (14:44)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EPrime Minister\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, absolutely\u2014particularly the stance that the Government is taking on education and school attendance as we approach a challenge around fuel supply. In the past when there\u2019s been disruptions to normal life, Governments have been, in our view, far too quick to put education down the totem pole of priorities in our society. We are very clear that no matter what challenges we may face, we will aways put the education of our children at the top of our priorities\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022122b172a6ff7630f923feb0454770e65\u0022\u003EHon Member: \u003C/span\u003ENot their lunch.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b1ec64d9ea60186cf2b730c948e76129\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014because that is what we are investing in: the future. I just had someone say, \u201CNot their lunch.\u201D Well, actually, we are delivering a healthy school lunch programme at half the price that they did and we are having the same percentage of lunches sent back, which suggests the quality is the same for half the price. If they had thought like that a little bit more when they were in Government, maybe there\u2019d be a bit more money to go around in New Zealand right now, but, sadly, they didn\u2019t, and that\u2019s why we\u2019ve got to keep them over there and these good people over here\u2014so it doesn\u2019t happen to New Zealanders\u2019 finances again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002214fd665344092d7a264ae3b7d8d516d1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That is a perfect example of what happens when there is an interjection called so deliberately across the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228624a61cc1f2d938eceb1d013032ddad\u0022\u003ESimon Court\u003C/span\u003E: How is the Government preparing for potential downstream impacts of the Middle East conflict?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ff9d2e14e7dce1c1defb1dcb49454bd0\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: Doing nothing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002209d00d19f4b206f8f6dcaab7efa5c8cb\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: We\u2019ve just heard from Willie Jackson that we\u2019re \u201Cdoing nothing\u201D, and I can only imagine that he is relating what he did when he was in Government. As Shakespeare once said, \u201CMeasuring the minds of others by his own.\u201D, and in Willie Jackson\u2019s case you don\u2019t need a very long ruler to make that measurement. This Government is taking the situation much more seriously than Willie Jackson has taken anything in his entire life. We start with the supply of fuel, and when it comes to the supply, what we are doing is ensuring that we are in touch with our friends around the world, we\u2019re monitoring the shipments, and we\u2019re looking at regulatory barriers. We\u2019ve already seen Shane Jones change the regulations around fuel so we have more options and access, and we\u2019re ensuring that New Zealanders will have a supply-side response. Then there is demand. There is a possibility that we will have to restrict the demand within New Zealand, but we are not catastrophising. We are talking to people behind the scenes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022154727523a59431ab210aea1cf707272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dd7907fc92ac3c4596dae201537a59c8\u0022\u003EHon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u003C/span\u003E: Details.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220c1ad1d99ce949e222ab4401f7b5fdf4\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: We\u2019re getting the details right, as we just heard one of the Labour members say\u2014who I can\u2019t remember the name of\u2014and we are ensuring that we have a plan ready to go if we need it and that we\u2019re prepared so we don\u2019t need it. It is far better to do the work behind the scenes so you\u2019ve got a plan than jump up to the podium without a plan, because we all saw how that ended, didn\u2019t we.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225a16ef22130785e9d72b3847c0031f97\u0022\u003ESimon Court\u003C/span\u003E: What did the Government consider when making decisions on providing financial support for low to middle income working families?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002269d8fb286dacfd378b5d2f3f092b2561\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Prime Minister, we considered a number of important factors. The number one factor is that we need to ensure that Government behaviour does not add to inflation that we may see through this oil shock, because we\u2019ve seen what can happen when the Government indiscriminately splashes the cash, increases inflation, increases interest rates\u2014it leads to a recession that costs people their jobs. When we saw the Fitch rating on the weekend, we recognised that the dashboard lights are flashing and we must make careful use of taxpayer money. That\u2019s why the relief we are giving will come out of the Government\u2019s Budget that we had already selected years ago. Second of all, we wanted to help people who are in the greatest need so we said that this is for people who are on the lower end of the income scale and who have children and who work, because those are the people that most often have to drive, that have the greatest need, and we linked it to petrol prices so that if petrol prices come back down, we stop spending the money. That\u2019s how you do responsible policy making. Listen and learn, guys.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229bd2134bb8af37837fa2dd28c11e0bfd\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll just remind the acting Prime Minister that\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e968c1334f0a40bfbd05d661e979ba38\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d45c6a90fcb8df8064dd1b802b03af65\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: Useless, useless, useless.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227110938a4542db6bed91d2858109a9e4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think I take offence at that. You\u2019re obviously directing it at the Chair. I just remind the acting Prime Minister that it\u2019s a Government question, so concise answers would be preferable.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d8133f1b923e035a75bb1dee087f0325\u0022\u003ESimon Court\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Prime Minister saying that the Government will stick to its present course of trying to bring the books back to health?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022454da1af8a7124f7cc559e27e87ce84c\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you for that question. On behalf of the Prime Minister, that is absolutely the point. We have a Minister of Finance who is strongly supported by her Cabinet colleagues to repair the damage to this Government\u2019s finances that was done in the years before we were elected. That means that we set a $2.4 billion a year operating allowance and then we keep to it, because we\u2019ve seen the alternative\u2014a Minister of Finance who set an operating allowance of, if I remember, $3.5 billion, but not only was it bigger, he couldn\u2019t keep to it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224b9100d8758c21acfa20bfbd0ea2a024\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Good. Yep.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227ebf98719b11899fbb3b5bb1fca89c47\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: He was, as I remember at the time\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c7f4ac1caeda69a33b5f59e7f44f0106\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just bring it back to the Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227b1c5592400168e8208139db974a6b78\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014fiscally incontinent. Our new Minister of Finance does not have that problem.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227966dcdeff793c97cb82eacdd03bb4b5\u0022\u003ESimon Court\u003C/span\u003E: Has the Prime Minister seen any comments from Government spokespeople about the impact that the Middle East conflict might have on education and school attendance?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e90d4fbea628bd800cf9b9dbc691b129\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I have. On behalf of the Prime Minister, from my Deputy Prime Minister, who is responsible for Government policy on school attendance, I saw him pointing out that, in recent days, attendance has been as high as 91 percent of students at school. That is a very good figure, and there\u2019s a salutary lesson in this: there is always the temptation for people to take an event like somebody not showing up and to try and view it through the lens of a perceived crisis and then catastrophise it into a moral panic. This is how these things get going, especially if a Government lets them. We are sticking to the facts that New Zealanders have been prioritising getting their children to school, because the most important determinant of our country\u2019s future is how educated the next generation is, and the most important determinant of that is how many children go to school each day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002247a88a22498e4a208a43347635748943\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002221f81bad3bdacad89b14822ce0fa3f8d\u0022\u003ET\u0101kuta Ferris\u003C/span\u003E: Does he continue to have confidence in the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries given the significant public push-back over proposed fisheries reforms to remove minimum size limits on fish such as snapper, kingfish, and many others?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c7a1186dae3f6972259a46189ffd1aa2\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Prime Minister, I absolutely have confidence in the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries because he has listened to feedback and changed course. He\u2019s listened to what people out there are saying and actually adapted his course to do the right thing. Now, I would say to that member that the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries is setting a very good example, because I suspect he gets a bit of feedback from the people of Te Tai Tokerau and he should listen, and when he changes course, he\u2019ll be hearing them say, \u201CBye, bye, bye, bye.\u201D [\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002247a88a22498e4a208a43347635748943\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221fca7e1a4f483e8090656f6ffbb94530\u0022\u003ET\u0101kuta Ferris\u003C/span\u003E: Supplementary from Te Tai Tonga\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229ef45e75b0bff734bac12f93387c2b90\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just wait for the House to calm itself down.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002247a88a22498e4a208a43347635748943\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002208dd9938d666800549372f74576e6e33\u0022\u003ET\u0101kuta Ferris\u003C/span\u003E: Will he rule out further supporting the fisheries reforms and commit to returning to open consultation, including customary and recreational fishers?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ef2baa19e4b8b9dc9ee8604ae7dba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f68b96655cd1c85b87c0e027f30e8186\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Prime Minister, it would be almost impossible for any Minister to rule out further supporting the fisheries reforms because that would amount to saying that the Government would never change any fishing policy at all in the future. Furthermore, that\u2019s contradicted by the second part of the member\u2019s question where he said we should consult on changing fisheries policy, which suggests he actually does want the fisheries reforms to be made. The good news is that the bill is before the House and will soon be before a select committee, which he may know is a form of open consultation where the public can have their say. It\u2019s been a real honour to answer what\u2019s probably his last ever question. Bye, bye, bye!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228a1ca5f43357437e47ab53c8d0cf4a11\u0022\u003EPacific Peoples\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022fc6ac3ea56ae8c13db7b1b1f573e2450\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 11\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022fd2c9c3aa7974099bfcaac8ea7452994\u0022 data-id=\u00228d034d996eb479519041fed62e08c4e8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd2c9c3aa7974099bfcaac8ea7452994\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228d034d996eb479519041fed62e08c4e8\u0022\u003EHon JENNY SALESA (Labour\u2014Panmure-\u014Ct\u0101huhu) (14:53)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for Pacific Peoples\u003C/span\u003E: Does he stand by his statement that \u201Cthis Government is committed to improving the lives of all New Zealanders, including our Pacific communities\u201D; if so, how many more Pasifika are now unemployed compared to December 2023?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225d867066726345c4928a50b531fad0af\u0022 data-id=\u002258684ca8888ee16136f0919bb1e2110c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225d867066726345c4928a50b531fad0af\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002258684ca8888ee16136f0919bb1e2110c\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Defence) (14:54)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for Pacific Peoples\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, and in respect to the second part of the question, I\u2019m advised by Stats NZ that the number of unemployed Pacific people in New Zealand rose by 13,000 compared with December 2023, but the positive news is that from December 2024 to December 2025, in Auckland alone, Pasifika employment rose by 7,000 people.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd2c9c3aa7974099bfcaac8ea7452994\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022188f164153bf4414551f557126aed331\u0022\u003EHon Jenny Salesa\u003C/span\u003E: Is it improving the lives of Pasifika communities when an additional 5,300 Pasifika are unemployed in Auckland just in the last year alone?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225d867066726345c4928a50b531fad0af\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221e73f383bb2997d098e926684fa50618\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m sorry, but that doesn\u2019t concur with the figures I have been given by Stats NZ, which show there are now 7,000 more people of Pasifika ethnicity who are employed in Auckland, from December 2024 to December 2025.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd2c9c3aa7974099bfcaac8ea7452994\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002205a0049319b781813d97468bbb123bed\u0022\u003EHon Jenny Salesa\u003C/span\u003E: Is it improving the lives of Pacific communities when, on his watch, 21 percent of young Pasifika\u2014more than 17,000\u2014are not in education, employment, or training?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225d867066726345c4928a50b531fad0af\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221609c05064817c899be435c96a3b7ffe\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: What I think that people need to remember, of course, is that there was the same issue prior to this Government, except that it was worse because, under the extensive and overdone lockdowns in Auckland, the home of most Pasifika people in New Zealand, many young people were denied their education. In fact, I recall, as the member of Parliament for a particular area, an electorate where heavy Pacific numbers are, having a discussion with a school principal in December 2021 who told me that attendance rates were a mere 17 percent. I look at what I hear today about attendance rates and I can say that things are going to get a lot better.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd2c9c3aa7974099bfcaac8ea7452994\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022401fc6edb1c3ff2372de3bcbf011e1d3\u0022\u003EHon Jenny Salesa\u003C/span\u003E: Is it correct that the Game On programme will deliver a maximum of 57 employment opportunities instead of the 1,300 people helped a year by the programme he slashed $22 million from?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225d867066726345c4928a50b531fad0af\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223054094e54d94af1f2f48b74beb17549\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: I think the member needs to get with the programme. The programme is about gaming, and many young people, including Pasifika people, are absolutely excited about the prospects, and not only the prospects but the real jobs and incredibly great pay that come with the gaming industry. New Zealand, as the member should know, is actually doing very well in this area. I am very excited about the $1 million dollars over four years into the Game On initiative, with industry partners matching this funding, and I know this will mean the starting careers for these young people are between $65,000 and $80,000 to start. I actually reckon that\u2019s pretty good to start.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd2c9c3aa7974099bfcaac8ea7452994\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e789a735350e8549428ee995a90fce4e\u0022\u003EHon Jenny Salesa\u003C/span\u003E: Has he kept his promise that this Government would reduce the cost of living, given that beef mince is up by 23 percent and white bread is up by 57 percent since just last year?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225d867066726345c4928a50b531fad0af\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002258c0480ef2a8de14d11771665490d315\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: My experience of the Minister is that he always keeps his promises. He\u2019s a very a decent human being, and frankly, I only wish that everyone would recognise that instead of asking such stupidly loaded questions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd2c9c3aa7974099bfcaac8ea7452994\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227ae496f6c7947559a38d2b5336583408\u0022\u003EHon Jenny Salesa\u003C/span\u003E: Does he consider it a failure that, on his watch, 13,000 more Pasifika are now unemployed, 10,000 more Pasifika children are in hardship, 17,000 young Pasifika are not in education, employment, or training, and more and more families are struggling to pay the bills each week?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225d867066726345c4928a50b531fad0af\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002216f7229c9feb8f7fdf0dadc98ee67f9d\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: Absolutely not. In fact, as we\u2019ve just explained today, there is so much that is being done in terms of Pasifika employment, but also in training young people. What we do know is that we had a situation, that we inherited, of massive inflation, up to over 7 percent. Debt\u2014that just the interest rates alone the Minister of Finance is having to find money for\u2014of $11 billion a year extra every single year; basically, borrowed money paying for borrowed money. It shows what happened with the COVID overspend and the complete wastage of young people\u2019s education, particularly in South Auckland. That member should know better, because I know the MP for Papakura knows what\u2019s what on this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00225257acf61fbd36d47d8da88707c24cc8\u0022\u003EMental Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022973b42b5a644ef52365d0f969607e4d6\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 12\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b27d8609c612411686d517d0f9b09b28\u0022 data-id=\u00225083a58235fe6848f728e2e29e46d438\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d8609c612411686d517d0f9b09b28\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225083a58235fe6848f728e2e29e46d438\u0022\u003EDAVID MacLEOD (National\u2014New Plymouth) (14:59)\u003C/span\u003E to the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister for Mental Health\u003C/span\u003E: What recent progress has been made against the Government\u2019s mental health targets?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002224cf2b07c863455d8ff343c5bc53b590\u0022 data-id=\u00220d2a5494375ad6405b249b3f71f2832e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002224cf2b07c863455d8ff343c5bc53b590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220d2a5494375ad6405b249b3f71f2832e\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY (Minister for Mental Health) (14:59)\u003C/span\u003E: More good news for mental health. Our mental health plan is delivering faster access to support, more front-line workers, and a better crisis response. The latest quarterly data shows we\u2019ve reduced wait times and are growing the mental health workforce. Eighty-three percent of people are being seen within one week for primary mental health and addiction support; nearly 82 percent are being seen within three weeks for specialist support\u2014both exceeding the target of 80 percent. When someone takes the brave step of reaching out, we\u2019re making sure that support is there.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d8609c612411686d517d0f9b09b28\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229dc04750c44b32f02813104936eeb370\u0022\u003EDavid MacLeod\u003C/span\u003E: What is the Minister doing to address workforce shortages in mental health and addiction services?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002224cf2b07c863455d8ff343c5bc53b590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002261a769b935c7f55976b7571ac9118eb6\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve always been open that one of the biggest barriers to timely mental health and addiction support is too many workforce vacancies. The latest quarterly data shows we\u2019ve exceeded our target for training 500 mental health and addiction workers a year, with 514 in training over the past year, up from 457 in the previous year. This result includes occupational therapists, social workers, registered nurses, clinical psychology interns, and registrar trainees for psychiatry. Workforce should never be a barrier to accessing timely mental health and addiction support. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve grown the front-line workforce by over 11 percent since coming to office.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d8609c612411686d517d0f9b09b28\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002250d609494d22fb2ae34877d3b010c028\u0022\u003EDavid MacLeod\u003C/span\u003E: What progress has been made in growing the mental health and addiction workforce, particularly in psychology and psychiatry training?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002224cf2b07c863455d8ff343c5bc53b590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220d3fe6d58a4d56bd42b6540879b99688\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: One of my top priorities is to grow the mental health and addiction workforce. We\u2019ve increased the number entering training in clinical psychology and psychiatry, which will grow both workforces. We\u2019ve funded 74 clinical psychology interns, exceeding the 2025 target of 60. We\u2019ve also seen a record uptake in psychiatry, with 48 first-year registrars entering training last year, up from 33 in 2024. That\u2019s a 50 percent increase. Growing the mental health workforce is a priority for this Government, and we are delivering that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d8609c612411686d517d0f9b09b28\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c6d0bf2d4276aa25334bb2c28d930d6a\u0022\u003EDavid MacLeod\u003C/span\u003E: How is the Government prioritising prevention and early intervention in mental health?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002224cf2b07c863455d8ff343c5bc53b590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d20c2874cec5ce2cd2525532364b6012\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: One of my top priorities is strengthening prevention and early intervention. For the first time, the Government\u2019s target of 25 percent of the ring-fenced mental health and addiction funding has been invested in prevention and early intervention. We know the difference prevention can make. By getting in early, we can help prevent issues from escalating. Mental health support has traditionally intervened at a crisis point and far too late. We\u2019re changing that. We\u2019re investing in early intervention to prevent mental crises, not just respond to them, and what great news for a Thursday afternoon.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f731d00a975451a1d5c527400ebe229\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That concludes oral questions. We\u2019ll take 30 seconds while people who have to go to other business leave the House quietly, without conversations on the way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002254669039403efd2b5c0046cbedba268b\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002255ad0797f507db5868e187bb3e167fba\u0022\u003ETaxation (Annual Rates for 2025\u201326, Compliance Simplification, and Remedial Measures) Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022833a32d735c85beef5b1382a1dd7d781\u0022\u003ELegislative Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022624b5e5ecd274e178a4554c1ae59f723\u0022 data-id=\u0022c4ab39bdaa92b37fb493cf8872b4198d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022624b5e5ecd274e178a4554c1ae59f723\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c4ab39bdaa92b37fb493cf8872b4198d\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK (Minister for Building and Construction) (15:03)\u003C/span\u003E: on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Revenue\u003C/span\u003E: I present a legislative statement on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2025\u201326, Compliance Simplification, and Remedial Measures) Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f4bbc9700fcfffa661ea8efbe6a65ce2\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002236ad9c23c246d9d22d933d6c36b7c725\u0022\u003EThird Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022624b5e5ecd274e178a4554c1ae59f723\u0022 data-id=\u0022936595cde5ae2a2d188aedcd65eb115f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022624b5e5ecd274e178a4554c1ae59f723\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022936595cde5ae2a2d188aedcd65eb115f\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK (Minister for Building and Construction) (15:03)\u003C/span\u003E: on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Revenue\u003C/span\u003E: I move, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2025\u201326, Compliance Simplification, and Remedial Measures) Bill be now read a third time\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis Government is moving quickly to support low to middle income working families impacted by rising fuel prices. An Amendment Paper to this bill was released yesterday to ensure that the in-work tax credit can be increased by 1 April. We are implementing a temporary $50 per week increase to the in-work tax credit for one year or until the price of 91 octane petrol drops below $3 a litre for four consecutive weeks. This temporary boost will deliver support to 143,000 working families who are under significant cost of living pressure without making inflation worse nor driving up Government debt.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe policy is carefully targeted to families in the squeezed middle. That\u2019s parents who are working hard for a living, are not eligible for main benefits, and yet have modest household incomes with which to support their children.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELooking ahead further, the bill also includes changes that will make it easier for New Zealand businesses to access capital and talent. New Zealand\u2019s thin capitalisation rules have been revised to ensure that they will not act as a barrier to attracting overseas investment into New Zealand\u2019s infrastructure projects. The thin capitalisation rules are an integrity measure to guard against foreign investors allocating excessive debt to their New Zealand investments to reduce the amount of tax paid. However, the rules may be too restrictive in certain circumstances and could be deterring foreign investment into New Zealand infrastructure, which can sometimes support a higher level of commercial debt than is possible with other business activities. To address this issue, we are proposing changes to ensure that qualifying infrastructure projects and businesses can take on third-party debt beyond the general thin capitalisation thresholds without a thin capitalisation income adjustment, as long as certain criteria are met. This will help make investment in projects to build a new wind or solar farm or to upgrade the electricity distribution networks a more attractive prospect to foreign investors. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df3e6766443b46819410ad4fedf34077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228512c6feb08fb5bc0f21a421b2f4a811\u0022\u003EStuart Smith\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s great news.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022624b5e5ecd274e178a4554c1ae59f723\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220aae10fa2690b3aa96c0b57de2faaed3\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK\u003C/span\u003E: We will benefit from that. As my colleague and friend, Stuart Smith, says, \u201Cgreat news\u201D, and, indeed very timely, I would note. It\u2019s a worthy addition to the bill therefore, which already contains measures to promote growth by supporting companies trying to attract and retain talent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re revising the foreign investment fund rules to include a new revenue account method. This will allow new migrants and returning New Zealanders to be able to use a new taxation method that taxes realised returns rather than estimated gains. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re helping start-ups and listed companies by improving the rules for employee scare schemes\u2014share schemes; we don\u2019t want scare schemes, not even by 31 October being Halloween\u2014by providing more flexibility on when tax must be paid.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe have changed the rules for digital nomads, allowing overseas visitors working in New Zealand to stay longer before being taxed\u2014that was a subject of much discussion in the committee of the whole House stage last night and, I think, if I may say, an enjoyable discussion indeed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis bill also has a strong focus on New Zealand households and businesses by simplifying and encouraging compliance with tax obligations\u2014for example, it introduces an income tax exemption for income from a household sale of excess electricity back to the grid. From 1 April, individuals will not be required to file a return nor pay any tax in relation to this income. This is because, in many cases, the compliance costs of filing a return were likely to outweigh any tax revenue owing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMany taxpayers make use of tax pooling as a way to meet their tax obligations. We want to see if an extension of time to use tax pooling for tax income debt can have positive outcomes for compliance. The bill includes a proposal to trial extending the period for using tax pooling to pay income tax debt for a defined group of taxpayers. This will test whether a tax pooling period improves income tax debt collection and, if successful, will inform whether this should become a permanent feature of the tax pooling regime.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOther measures focus on improving compliance. One area of concern is the low level of compliance among student loan borrowers who are based overseas. Borrowers living overseas have interest applied to their loans. Over time, this can drive significant debt accumulation. In some cases, interest owing has become so large that these borrowers disengage from Inland Revenue and their repayment obligations altogether. The bill grants the Commissioner of Inland Revenue a limited discretion to increase flexibility around negotiated settlements. This discretion would be exercised on a case by case basis\u2014as the phrase \u201Cdiscretion\u201D would imply\u2014when it is equitable and its use will depend on the borrower\u2019s situation. To qualify for any relief, the loan must be paid in full, either in a lump-sum payment or through a short-term instalment arrangement. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAnd, as is standard for a taxation bill, there are a number of remedial amendments to help ensure the tax system keeps pace with technological developments and changing business models. Collectively, these changes support the Government\u2019s aspirations to lift the economic prospects for all New Zealanders. I am very pleased, therefore, to reach the end of this speech and commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224eacfbcdac3558f385637b9301738148\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=\u0022b13aa8ffbae34ee4972a7ab313f6b300\u0022 data-id=\u0022bb49448b8240de9d2fd59ade401e40d5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b13aa8ffbae34ee4972a7ab313f6b300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bb49448b8240de9d2fd59ade401e40d5\u0022\u003EHon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL (Labour) (15:09)\u003C/span\u003E: When this bill was presented to the House\u2014six months ago, I suppose\u2014the Labour Party, at that stage, did not support this bill, and that position to not support the bill continued through the second reading of this bill. At the committee stage and at this reading, we have changed our position on this bill, and we will now be supporting it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe reasons for opposing it are still there, and I do intend to traverse them, but they have been outweighed by the Amendment Paper that was presented to the House yesterday, which puts in place the Government\u2019s package for giving some limited relief to working families in respect of the fuel crisis at the moment. While we think things could have been done better or done differently, we are not going to oppose getting those extra dollars into families\u2019 pockets. That is our reason for changing our position on this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe had a good discussion of this bill at the committee of the whole House stage. It was an interesting discussion, especially today when James Meager, who, as I understand it, is the Minister for hunting, shooting, fishing, and all those sorts of things, was in the chair, and the Hon Matt Doocey, who I understand is the Minister for Mental Health, was in the chair. These are not tax specialists, but they nevertheless attempted to grapple with the bill as well as they could. It did make the committee of the whole House stage a bit difficult this morning. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EHowever, there were some interesting things to discuss. In terms of the fuel package, even though we support it, there is a question of who doesn\u2019t get it. There are, I think, some real issues around people who are on benefits, and in work, who are supporting children who will not be eligible for this relief package. Now, that\u2019s a common enough situation\u2014we think there\u2019s about 47,000 families who might be in that position. I think the Government needs to pay attention to that particular gap. If families are on benefits and also in work and supporting children, they are surely feeling the pinch right now. One of the most difficult examples of this will be grandparents raising grandchildren, and they won\u2019t be eligible for this. That is a problem with this package, and I urge the Government to find some way of addressing that. That would be a very important thing to do at this time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAs I said, overall, we will support it, but we would like to see the Government do more and better there, especially for our very lowest-income families. Even beneficiaries who are not in work, many, many of them are obliged to attend appointments and obliged to be going into Work and Income or whatever it is these days\u2014to be engaging with the commitments that they are supposed to meet thanks to receiving a benefit\u2014but they will not be getting any extra assistance to get into those appointments. The Government has told us, well, they get an annual increase in their benefit on 1 April, but, of course, that is a backwards-looking increase, and it certainly is not going to help to deal with the real pressures of fuel prices at the moment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThere was a measure that arrived on the Table just this week, an Amendment Paper, that had two major items in it. One was a set of rules around thin capitalisation in infrastructure. We had discussed some of this at the Finance and Expenditure Committee, but only at a high policy level. What we had not discussed was what it was going to apply to. What this change does is it makes it easier for inbound investment into New Zealand\u2014it makes it easier for overseas investors to invest in New Zealand infrastructure and get a tax deduction for their interest costs. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s look at what kind of infrastructure investment is allowed there. New section FE 7C(8), lists the qualifying infrastructure\u2014the things that we\u2019re happy to have inwards-bound investment for and to give tax deductions for. If there is inward-bound investment, we expect that they are making a return on it. Energy infrastructure: that sounds like a good idea, provided it\u2019s limited to renewables and non-fossil fuel energy. Water infrastructure: that\u2019s a little bit worrying; we\u2019ve always had water infrastructure publicly owned in this country, and it\u2019s a bit worrying to find out that private investors might be involved in it. Telecommunications infrastructure: that\u2019s all right. Waste infrastructure: yep, you can do that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAnd then social infrastructure: this would enable private investment into public assets and people getting a tax deduction for private investment into hospitals, into schools, into libraries, into prisons. Since when have we wanted private investment in our prisons? Since when do we want people to be able to earn a profit out of our prisons? When we imprison someone, we take away their freedom; it is one of the most serious powers that a State has. One of the only ways that we can ensure we do that fairly and justly is by ensuring that those prisons are well run, but we know the history of private investment in prisons. I think that\u2019s a shameful measure sitting in this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe other shameful measure sitting in this bill, and the reason that we opposed it at first reading, is the provisions around information sharing. There\u2019s about three sets of provisions here which all go to this issue around what information is collected and held by Inland Revenue and where it is shared. On the one hand, this Government has repealed, is repealing, section 17GB of the Tax Administration Act, the section which allows Inland Revenue to collect information for policy purposes\u2014that\u2019s one change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAnother change is that it\u2019s repealing the provisions that allow Inland Revenue to collect information about trusts. In both cases, the Minister in the chair during the committee of the whole House stage asserted that the reason for doing this was to do around the privacy of tax information, but, on the other hand, this bill gives Inland Revenue a whole new power to share the information it holds with other Government agencies\u2014to share the information it holds with Government agencies such as the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, such as Police, such as the department of social welfare. Tax information is traditionally very tightly protected, and Inland Revenue holds it very tightly. There are guardrails around how that information may be accessed and used.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EYou could see in the report that was presented\u2014I\u2019m not sure if it was today or a previous day\u2014in a public hearing with the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, the commissioner went through how they protect taxpayers\u2019 information within Inland Revenue. He stressed that, over the past five years, there have been, I think, 107 investigations into allegations of misuse of information by Inland Revenue staff, and those allegations were investigated very seriously, and there were 75 dismissals because people had inappropriately accessed information. They take their role of protecting taxpayers\u2019 information very, very seriously, but how do we know that this information, when it is sent out to other agencies, will be protected so tightly? This is a very risky change for the privacy of tax information.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOn the one hand, they assert that it\u2019s important not to collect information, because of the issues around the privacy of information, and, on the other hand\u2014on the other hand\u2014they don\u2019t care about the privacy of information when it gets spread out to other Government departments. This is a worrying change. Something that really worries me about it is the extent to which it could be used for phishing investigations by other Government departments.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI\u2019m disappointed that New Zealand First, who was, in previous years, so strong in protecting the privacy of taxpayers\u2019 information, simply could not do it this time. I think they need to have a look at their history.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThere were some really interesting changes around student loans; I, alas, don\u2019t have time to talk about them. It\u2019s a mixed measure. It\u2019s probably a good enough situation, but a good enough solution in a space that is hard to find good solutions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe rest of the bill\u2014good tax measures; we\u2019re happy to support them. We are deeply, deeply disappointed and upset by the information-sharing provisions and the way they go against each other; worried about that infrastructure provision around prisons; but, on the whole, because of the fuel package, we are supporting this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022 data-id=\u0022330578ffc405816c9e8f7d828ebbc471\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022330578ffc405816c9e8f7d828ebbc471\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green\u2014Rongotai) (15:19)\u003C/span\u003E: At the committee stage, we did support two Government Amendment Papers. One of them was a bit of a surprise, and that was the changes around student loan debts so that for overseas New Zealanders who have racked up huge amounts of interest, there can be some incentives for them to be able to pay back their loans without having to face that huge burden of interest debt. I think this is something that my colleague Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan and others in the Green Party have been campaigning for for a long time, so it was good to see that provision in one of the Amendment Papers earlier today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe other Amendment Paper that we supported is the $50 a week payment. However, we do know, and my colleague Ricardo Men\u00E9ndez March has been raising this quite a bit in the House, that more than half of the families in Aotearoa living in material hardship\u2014this is people with children who cannot make ends meet, and some of them will be working\u2014will not receive this payment, and they\u2019re the ones who need it most. So I think it\u2019s disingenuous of the Government to claim that they are looking after those who need the most help when, in fact, more than half of the families in material hardship are not eligible for this payment, and they will be suffering.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThere was a story on RNZ, some of you may have heard, about a single mother who works part-time, who also receives the benefit, and who\u2019s therefore not eligible to receive this payment and is struggling because of higher fuel costs. Of course, we haven\u2019t yet seen those higher fuel costs flow into higher costs for food, which is very likely to happen in the short to medium term. So it\u2019s not just about filling up your car or your diesel ute or whatever; the shortage of diesel and the impacts on diesel prices are going to flow through to higher prices for food and other goods in the next few weeks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe Government has taken this extremely short-term, inadequate step to try to help people. This is after two years of policies that have demonstrably made our economy more reliant on fossil fuels and on diesel. We could have spent the last two years decarbonising transport, which also makes us more energy-independent and means we have a more energy-efficient transport system, which would mean we\u2019d be in a better position to face this current fuel crisis, as well as having less pollution in our air, as well as helping meet our climate targets.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo because of the irresponsible and ideological approach of Luxon\u2019s Government, which has, against all of the economic evidence, sought to make us more reliant on fossil fuels, our country is going to suffer more, and here they\u2019ve just given us this very inadequate approach that\u2019s only going to help about 150,000 families in New Zealand. So there\u2019s a whole lot of families who are doing it tough who are going to be doing it even tougher.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe Green Party put on the table\u2014our co-leaders, Marama Davidson and Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u2014on Monday this week a proposal to the Government to offer our votes in support of some measures that would go much further and actually make a much bigger difference to the entire country, because if we fund free public transport, for example, that not only helps the people who can take public transport; it reduces the amount of fuel we\u2019re consuming now, which puts us in a better position as the supplies dwindle, and they are dwindling. That offer is still on the table for a Government that would actually take some useful measures, but so far it seems that Luxon\u2019s Government is going to completely fail to meet the moment\u2014they\u2019ve already demonstrated no comprehension of the benefits of\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a2d138cbb839455d9754acbe91a75102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a4ebc70334b87f47acd8f6271dea32cd\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I just remind the member that we don\u2019t just use surnames; we use the member\u2019s full name or their title\u2014one of the two.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022148fd3420d9088aeb546831111f2daa4\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon\u2019s Government is failing to meet the moment, has demonstrated no real understanding of the benefits to Aotearoa New Zealand of decarbonising and making us more independent, less reliant on fossil fuels, and having a transport system that\u2019s more energy efficient.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAlso, not calling out the genocide in Gaza, not calling out the extremely chaotic and destructive actions of the United States and Israel\u2014these unprovoked attacks that have now resulted in the fuel crisis that the whole world\u2019s facing\u2014and not seeing the opportunities to create a fair society by reforming the tax system, and so that\u2019s another thing that\u2019s in this bill, which is a deliberate change to repeal new section 17GB and the disclosures around trust.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s be honest about what this is about: this is about secrecy for the ultra-wealthy. They know that if the public realise just how unbalanced our economy is, and that that wealth is being concentrated in the hands of a very tiny percentage\u2014we\u2019re talking 1 percent, or maybe less than the 1 percent: the 0.1 percent\u2014who are, at this point, mathematically accumulating wealth at the expense of ordinary New Zealanders whose living standards are falling. Their standards are falling, because once people have a certain amount of accumulated wealth, all they can do is buy up assets, and that makes housing less affordable for ordinary working New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELiving standards are falling. This is not just happening in Aotearoa New Zealand; it\u2019s happening in the United Kingdom. That\u2019s why a wealth tax is so popular now in the United Kingdom. It\u2019s happening in the United States. It has accelerated from the 1980s, and it\u2019s totally unsustainable. It\u2019s not good for people, it\u2019s not good for the economy, it\u2019s not good even for the environment and climate change, because we see the ultra-wealthy are responsible for funding fascism, firstly, and politicians who are going to continually bring us into wars which cause more carbon emissions; but it\u2019s also the ultra-wealthy who are creating far more carbon emissions than most people, and so we need to do something about inequality.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMembers opposite may claim to care about equality of opportunity, but unless they address the structural inequities in our economy through progressive taxation, then there is no equality of opportunity. The ultra-wealthy will continue to accumulate wealth at the expense of ordinary working New Zealanders, and that is the reality. And, unfortunately, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his coalition partners are totally ideologically opposed to doing anything practical about this because either they don\u2019t understand it\u2014which is entirely possible: so far, it\u2019s pretty obvious that for a lot of people on the Government benches, you know, math is not their strong point; I\u2019m being very diplomatic here. Not everybody is, you know, mathematically inclined in their reasoning, and it\u2019s obvious that the members in the Government are not mathematically inclined. So maybe they don\u2019t understand it or maybe they represent the interests of the ultra-rich.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EYou know, they own more properties than the average New Zealander, and they have, therefore, a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. And, of course, they get donations from the ultra-wealthy. So, you know, there are all these different reasons why the Christopher Luxon Government is failing to meet the moment, failing to take action on the things that would actually help New Zealanders in this incredibly challenging time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo this is why the Green Party is not going to support this bill, because it does nothing to address the issues that\u2014well, it does some very, very minor things to address issues. I, maybe, neglected to mention the changes around domestic solar. Of course we support that\u2014of course. But overall, this bill is not taking action that we need to have a fair society. It\u2019s not taking the action we need to make sure that children are not living in poverty, to make sure that a huge number of New Zealanders who are suffering because of the fuel crisis are going to be able to make ends meet. We continue to see an irresponsible Government who has taken irresponsible policy actions from the very beginning of taking power, which now puts us in a more difficult situation as a country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe have enough\u2014we have enough wealth and resources in Aotearoa to end child poverty. We could do that. It\u2019s a political decision not to do that. It is true that we do not have enough petrol and diesel, and we are probably going to run out of diesel in the next few weeks. The Government has not demonstrated any awareness of this. We\u2019ll see in the next coming few weeks if they actually take some action to conserve fuel, but we could be conserving a lot more fuel, and that would be beneficial for us economically, but obviously the last two years, with a failed policy, have set us up for a much more difficult time during this time of fuel crisis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe Green Party has a suite of very practical, evidence-based solutions, but most of all, we have the values of most New Zealanders because we know we can end child poverty, we can reduce pollution, and we can have better lives.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b064dd56673f4c1cb11c1242823abb92\u0022 data-id=\u0022e07500a05c11de0d3c5291c1a213c0fd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b064dd56673f4c1cb11c1242823abb92\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e07500a05c11de0d3c5291c1a213c0fd\u0022\u003ELAURA McCLURE (ACT) (15:29)\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s quite ironic listening to the other side of the House talking about sensible spending. I have to laugh, because over on this side of the House, I support this bill, and I support this bill because we are giving targeted relief to families, to the middle class, the mums, the dads, that get up every day, drive to work to put food on the table, drop their kids off at school, and they, over the other side, are complaining because we are not borrowing any money to do this. In fact, we\u2019re not borrowing a cent to provide this relief at all. The other side of the House would rather just absolutely waste away your taxpayer money and borrow money to put us into significant debt. It\u2019s absolutely ironic. I support this bill and commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222c117f6511bc4b8fb6fdcf9c6133fb99\u0022 data-id=\u00228c8a6eb61cb0f779662950a93d407bde\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222c117f6511bc4b8fb6fdcf9c6133fb99\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228c8a6eb61cb0f779662950a93d407bde\u0022\u003EDr DAVID WILSON (NZ First) (15:30)\u003C/span\u003E: I rise to speak to this bill on behalf of New Zealand First. We welcome the solar amendments for the sale of excess energy back to the grid. We think this is very good. We also welcome making it easier for inward investors and digital nomads to enter New Zealand, and we welcome the Minister\u2019s relief for working families, hard-working families, in the lower to middle income brackets during this energy crisis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, I move to something that perhaps was a little more, shall we say, controversial through the debates, the repeal of section 17GB. I also take note of the comment about this side of the House not being so literate in terms of mathematics, so I\u2019ll pull out a figure for you: the top 70\u00A0percent of income revenue in New Zealand comes from the 20\u00A0percent of those in the higher income brackets. I hope you can remember those numbers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe other one that I brought out was the famous Thomas Sowell quote that in the 1920s in the US they taxed the rich people at 76\u00A0percent and wondered why they weren\u2019t getting much income. When they reduced it to 24\u00A0percent, the income skyrocketed. There\u2019s some interest in there. I\u2019m not rising away from anything that the Hon Deborah Russell did not affirm in her debate around this when she quoted Mr Nixon. I was quite impressed with that. I wondered where this was going. There seems to be some kind of interesting debate there following that contribution\u2014particularly in her ruminations on the widening of the tax base and how, sometimes, the inverse relationship between income and tax revenue is right there in front of us. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENone the less, I thought the crowning moment of her contribution was when she started to ruminate on whether or not we should reduce the corporate tax rate. That\u2019s very interesting, coming from the other side of the House. Thank you very much for that contribution. On that note, I commend this bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ce1ba57172a999ada352770dd55f1815\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: This is a split call\u2014Francisco Hernandez.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002233d6c990c64e41428c25aa2fcb7c3bf3\u0022 data-id=\u00227b566505dd657b5a6f64bde7c005aced\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002233d6c990c64e41428c25aa2fcb7c3bf3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227b566505dd657b5a6f64bde7c005aced\u0022\u003EFRANCISCO HERNANDEZ (Green) (15:32)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thought I would have a little bit more time to draft my speech while the two previous speakers were speaking, but, unfortunately, that is not the case.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225459b3c0726d42c1b6d3cc94ec303baa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002285600289279f7a6267d78d7430de981a\u0022\u003EHon James Meager\u003C/span\u003E: Think on your feet, young man!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002233d6c990c64e41428c25aa2fcb7c3bf3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227483df2e42b2017bbda5d07d5d0be68f\u0022\u003EFRANCISCO HERNANDEZ\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll just have to \u201Cthink on my feet, young man\u201D, as Mr Meager said, even though I think we\u2019re the exact same age.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI want to start with some positives about the bill. First, I want to echo the praise that my colleague the Hon Julie Anne Genter has already given around the limited relief around the overseas student loan borrowing. I want to commend, in particular, the efforts led by my colleague Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan and the campaign that the Global Greens ran around this issue. It shows that when you get together and when you work with people, you can make a difference, even in a limited form. The second thing that I want to praise\u2014and it\u2019s something that my colleague the Hon Julie Anne Genter rightfully praised\u2014was the income exemption from the renewable energy generation. That is exactly the sort of thing we should be doing in this crisis. I acknowledge that this bill was drafted well before the crisis and that it wasn\u2019t intended to attend to respond to this crisis, but it is exactly the sort of measure that the Government should have been doing more of on this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe sorts of measures that stimulate renewable energy generation and lessen and break our dependence on fossil fuels are really necessary. We\u2019ve heard from colleagues that keeping Marsden Point open would have affected the fuel crisis here, but, in fact, countries, like the United States, that are net exporters of oil are being affected by this crisis and are having their fuel prices increase as well, because fossil fuel is a global commodity in-traded in global markets, whereas local renewable energy generation, such as this bill is encouraging through the renewable energy income tax exemption, is traded locally and means it\u2019s exempt from the global oil shocks that we are seeing, sadly, today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI want to turn to another aspect of the bill, which is the fossil fuel relief package that the Government passed as part of this package. Look, it\u2019s better than nothing. It\u2019s a far cry from what the Greens called for at the start of the week on Monday when my co-leaders, the Hon Marama Davidson and Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick, called for universal public transport, which would have aided in fuel conservation and also really helped households quite a bit. The second aspect that they called for was for a universal payment for everyone who\u2019s making under $70,000. It\u2019s, unfortunately, a half measure because less than half of the children in households in material poverty are actually going to get this relief because more than half\u201452\u00A0percent\u2014are in benefit households. We do know that 150,000 families that do get this are a drop in the bucket in terms of the 1.8\u00A0million households all around New Zealand. We know that the people who didn\u2019t get this are some of the most vulnerable and the communities most affected by this crisis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMy colleague Ricardo Men\u00E9ndez March called it the \u201Ccrushed bottom\u201D yesterday. The crushed bottom continues to be crushed even further by this Government. I was speaking to a student earlier in the week. She\u2019s a PhD student at the University of Otago, and she\u2019s a single mum. She has to commute to Otago to do her lessons. She\u2019s not getting any cent of this relief package, and people like her are struggling. People like her students and people on the benefit aren\u2019t getting this money, and this Government hasn\u2019t done anything for them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI want to conclude by talking about what could have been done better. I\u2019ve already spoken about the need for the universal public transport that the Greens were offering and also making the universal payment to those earning under $70,000, but it could have been funded through a windfall profit tax according to a study done. Unfortunately, this bill removes the measures that would have allowed IRD to get the information so that they could charge a windfall profit tax. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b6ccadf0b52af49d69fd3db7f96fb1fb\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Cameron Brewer\u2014you were lucky you moved on time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022587d574de1174371be09e431d9060e87\u0022 data-id=\u00227e113bed15cb04c52c7130a0075f064d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587d574de1174371be09e431d9060e87\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227e113bed15cb04c52c7130a0075f064d\u0022\u003ECAMERON BREWER (National\u2014Upper Harbour) (15:37)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It\u2019s with great pleasure to stand for this third reading of our annual administrative taxation bill. I want to put in highlights the piece in the legislative statement from the Hon Simon Watts that points to the in-work tax credit. As we know, this bill proposes and will seal the temporary increase of the rate of the in-work tax credit by $50 a week, paid by the IRD. It estimates that 143,000 New Zealand families will receive the full $50 a week increase. It\u2019s timely, it\u2019s temporary, and it\u2019s targeted. It will be paid out from 7\u00A0April. Let\u2019s get on with it, let\u2019s pass this bill, and let\u2019s get the relief to where it\u2019s needed. I commend the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022557b2bf276d8007b95d224db0019e21f\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The Hon Dr Megan Woods\u2014I\u2019ll give you the same courtesy and ask that the other speakers are on alert for the rest of the afternoon.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022 data-id=\u002246830c23ca4003d74b1b51742260c2ba\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002246830c23ca4003d74b1b51742260c2ba\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Labour\u2014Wigram) (15:38)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you. I was just expecting that the chair of the Finance and Expenditure Committee might give a more fulsome contribution to the House on such an important piece of legislation. I was deep in conversation with my colleague the Hon Dr Deborah Russell about tax, because there is nothing that the Hon Dr Deborah Russell likes to discuss more than tax. It\u2019s the thing that she will talk ad infinitum about.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELabour finds itself in quite a unique situation with this piece of legislation. It is a piece of legislation that, at this reading, we are supporting, but that does not mean we support everything in the bill. The Minister\u2019s Amendment Paper 560, which delivers relief to some families in New Zealand in terms of the current fuel crisis that we\u2019re in, is our reason for supporting it. This does not mean that we don\u2019t have questions about that specific measure in terms of the relief that is going. I do want to run through some of the other elements of this legislation and the changes and the way in which they were discussed at select committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENothing says omnibus bill like a tax bill. It is free-ranging; there are a lot of non-intersecting parts and changes that are made when you do come to look at the taxation legislation. There are several things that are tidying up. Some of them, actually, are really positive, in terms of looking to the future and the way our tax system needs to sit: forward-facing and ready for an economy that is operating in the 21\u003Csup\u003Est\u003C/sup\u003E century. We\u2019ve got provisions in there on how we deal with taxation on income derived from people that sell electricity back into the grid, from generating it off solar panels on their homes. We\u2019ve got taxation rules in this bill that deal with influencers coming to Queenstown to do promotions of particular areas; digital nomads are fulsomely discussed in terms of the changes that need to happen there. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBut there are some other changes in there that led Labour to oppose this bill at earlier stages, and this largely revolves around the information sharing. So while there is a loosening of the ability of agencies to share information\u2014for IRD to share with other Government entities that information, and as my colleague the Hon Dr Deborah Russell has gone through, the IRD has a long history of having very strong provisions around the protections of people\u2019s personal income tax data and making sure that that is locked solid and can\u2019t be used for nefarious purposes or used for any other purpose other than it was collected. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo it is quite a major change for this information sharing from Inland Revenue with other Crown agencies to happen. This is happening in the same piece of legislation in terms of the changes to trusts and the information that is collected around trusts. We heard from the Minister that the reason that these changes and the loosening of the information and the downgrading of the information that we will collect around trusts is because we need to protect privacy. Now, no such consideration was given to income and wage earners when it came to the information sharing between IRD and Government agencies, so that is a concern for us. Trusts need to have transparency. People need to be able to see inside trusts and see what is happening and I think that is something that makes us a stronger and a better country, when we can do that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe other thing that this piece of this legislation does is it gets rid of the work that IRD was doing: collecting tax data for the purposes of making policy; understanding from a real-world perspective how it was that some of our income earners needed to be treated. It wasn\u2019t collecting it for the purposes of taking tax; that information was collected for the purposes of making tax policy. I would like to think that we have an Inland Revenue Department that is making evidence-based policy, that is using real-world New Zealand examples\u2014not just theoretical models, but understanding the tax system and the way it\u2019s operating in New Zealand, in order to generate fit for purpose 21\u003Csup\u003Est\u003C/sup\u003E century tax policy in this country. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThese were the reasons that we were not supporting the bill, and then along came the committee stage and amendments. There were three major amendments. There were the changes to the student loan provisions, which we supported, then there were the changes that are around the thin capital markets. I think that my colleague Dr Deborah Russell raised some very important concerns in her speech on this around what this is actually creating: quite a fundamental change to be dropped in by a ministerial Amendment Paper, rather than something that is traversed through the normal course. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI think one of the things that the Finance and Expenditure Committee, when it comes to examine tax legislation\u2014because it is so technical, it is so detailed. Not only do we have our departmental advisers but we also have the advisers that come in and advise us on the legislation. They produce fulsome commentary on the bill that I think goes above and beyond other legislation that we see coming through this House, because it is technicians that need to give advice on this, in order for people like myself who have not dedicated myself to tax\u2014Deborah\u2014to be able to understand what this means for New Zealanders; how it\u2019s going to play out. I think the concerns that were raised there around how we may be setting ourselves up for the selling off of some of our social services is concerning. It is concerning that has come through in an eleventh-hour Amendment Paper.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThat brings us to the reason we are supporting the bill, and that was the Minister\u2019s Amendment Paper 560 which puts in place the provisions to help 147,000 New Zealanders. I think it\u2019s 7 percent of New Zealand households that will receive support through these provisions, from rough calculations on that. We support it; we think it\u2019s a start, but we think there are some really significant gaps that sit there, and they\u2019re the other things that we traversed in the committee stage of the bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe heard in the House today, during question time\u2014because the mechanism for transferring this money to households is an in-work tax credit. It means anyone who receives even some small amount of benefit is not eligible for that. So what we had Willow-Jean Prime asking in the House today was how many people are working but still receiving a small amount of benefit. This deems them ineligible for this tax credit. All the reasons that the Minister of Finance has given for why some people are getting this and not, like people who are working have to get themselves to work, they\u2019ve got that added expense. So do these, I think it was 47,000 New Zealanders\u2014I think this was the number that was given in the House\u2014have to get themselves to work. They\u2019ve got their expense. We have concerns around that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe also have concerns that, obviously, superannuitants are missing out on this. We know in this country there is a large number of grandparents raising grandchildren. These grandparents have those expenses of a working family, in many respects. They need to take the kids to school, they need to ferry them around, they\u2019ve got all the to and fro. But they\u2019re grandparents and they\u2019re superannuitants, therefore they\u2019re ineligible. They\u2019re on a very fixed income and they\u2019re going to be doing it incredibly tough at the moment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe other group that I\u2019m concerned about\u2014and I asked questions at committee stage and we didn\u2019t get any numbers on it\u2014is how many of our home care and support workers fall outside of the provisions. They might not have children, they might be receiving some form of benefit, they might not be working 30 hours. Home care and support workers, by definition, often are part-time workers and they are often women that have reentered the workforce. So how many of our home care and support workers who are having to use their own vehicles, their own petrol, in order to do their jobs, looking after some of the country\u2019s most vulnerable are missing out? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo these are all questions that I think we need to continue to ask because we know for many people, they were doing it tough before this war broke out. They were struggling; they couldn\u2019t pay the bills and that is only getting worse. Things are getting worse, not better for people, and we need to make sure we\u2019re supporting everybody who needs it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b27d8609c612411686d517d0f9b09b28\u0022 data-id=\u0022d7b162fa860aec2e658a7f04bfbfd106\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d8609c612411686d517d0f9b09b28\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d7b162fa860aec2e658a7f04bfbfd106\u0022\u003EDAVID MacLEOD (National\u2014New Plymouth) (15:48)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I\u2019m very pleased to stand and talk to this bill in question, the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2025\u201326, Compliance Simplification, and Remedial Measures) Bill. Not being part of the committee, one of the challenges for all other members when you\u2019ve got a substantial bill is to come up to speed with many of the arrangements that are included within it. I think the complexity of it was evidenced by the lengthy committee of the whole House stage that occurred for this bill. We saw lots and lots of questions being asked of the Ministers in the chair, and it was good to hear those questions and learn a bit more about this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ETwo areas that I am familiar with that I wish to talk to: first of all is the fact that anybody that has a residential house with solar on top is going to be excluded from tax for any of the income they derived from potentially selling some of that electricity out into the distribution network. I think a lot of people may not actually have known that they were due for that, but that sounds like a very practical outcome for it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe second area I wanted to talk to, which has been traversed by a lot of speakers already, is the in-work tax credit. We talk about targeted, timely, temporary, and this particular clause in this bill is exactly that. The fact that it is timely\u2014we just heard from the previous speaker, Dr Megan Woods, that there is a lot of hardship out there, particularly with the increase in petrol cost, fuel costs, and all that. So it is timely.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIt is targeted because it is targeting working families with dependent children, and it is temporary; it ends on either 31 March 2027 or when 91 octane petrol prices fall below $3 a litre for four consecutive weeks. That sounds very practical to me. I\u2019m pleased to commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022 data-id=\u002244d5b0b7f824659e6c0c8ef6dd25586c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002244d5b0b7f824659e6c0c8ef6dd25586c\u0022\u003EREUBEN DAVIDSON (Labour\u2014Christchurch East) (15:50)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It\u2019s an absolute pleasure to be able to take a call on this bill. I\u2019m disappointed that it\u2019s only a five-minute one because, having spent some time over what has become a long day in the House, it\u2019s been really good to go through it and get a better understanding of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2025-26, Compliance Simplification, and Remedial Measures) Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI am, ultimately, standing to support this, and my colleagues have spoken, from this side of the House, about why it is that we are supporting this bill. A number of people have also acknowledged that we had in the chair Minister Doocey and Minister Meager, who took questions on the bill and provided some answers on the bill, and acknowledge that perhaps it\u2019s not an area of expertise for either of them. We do appreciate them giving us those answers, and it\u2019s not the first time we\u2019ve seen someone who\u2019s not in their area of expertise trying to provide answers; we saw that just yesterday from the Prime Minister speaking to the fuel plan and how stepping through the various stages of that may work. We are none the wiser for having listened to any of what his so-called answers to the questions asked yesterday. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThere are two points I wanted to focus on specifically in this bill. I did ask some questions, but I think it\u2019s worth drawing attention to these as we move through this stage of the bill. The first is in Part 2, clause 15, where we\u2019re talking about digital nomads. A few people have talked about digital nomads and the huge potential that initiative has to bring people into New Zealand and some of the benefits from that. But there was some confusion around this section not applying to the income of what was termed a public entertainer, and just a lack of clarity around what the definition of a public entertainer was. A number of the examples included in the material to provide the types of tax scenarios that digital nomads might be looking at in New Zealand included influencers, many of whom could also fall into the category of public entertainer by way of hosted events or appearances that they may make while they\u2019re in New Zealand, therefore creating some confusion about which tax category they might fall into. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe other point was, really, in the share schemes components of this bill\u2014once again, Part 2, but this time in clause 39. That was really concern for our innovation sector, to ensure that it\u2019s very clear there that that\u2019s a sector that has enormous potential and can achieve a huge amount. A lot of the time, the incentive for employees or people within those organisations or companies or start-ups is the ability to take shares as part of their income or their salary package. I just want to make sure that that\u2019s absolutely in the best possible shape for that to be happening and for those people to be benefiting.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMost importantly, the reason that we are supporting this bill is that we know New Zealanders are doing it very tough at the moment. Our support enables the limited support that the Government have so far committed to offering. What we still have concerns around is some of the privacy and the information-sharing provisions. A number of colleagues have referred to concerns voiced by members of the public who would be concerned about the removal of those protections of people\u2019s privacy through that information-sharing and, very importantly, the potential for that privatisation push that\u2019s coming in there. Once you see schools and hospitals and libraries in prisons listed in that category, all New Zealanders should be very concerned about that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMost of all, I think what all New Zealanders should be concerned about is the fact that there are 47,000 New Zealanders who are receiving welfare, are in work, and have children, and are ineligible for any support from this Government. Not only that, 52 percent\u2014that\u2019s a majority, for those who don\u2019t know\u2014of children living in poverty will receive no support from this Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022 data-id=\u0022094c5a6f23c77756d5cd42ccc5448da7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022094c5a6f23c77756d5cd42ccc5448da7\u0022\u003ECARL BATES (National\u2014Whanganui) (15:55)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. There\u2019s an amendment in this bill that enables the $50 targeted weekly increase to the in-work tax credit. It\u2019s going to enable low and middle income working families in the wonderful Whanganui electorate\u2014including South Taranaki, Stratford, Ruapehu soon as well\u2014to get the support they need. It is timely, it is temporary, it is targeted, and therefore I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220750364c2c1444d0ae00bced720f964e\u0022 data-id=\u0022aea70da479bb5aeed4428d274dfd6f44\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220750364c2c1444d0ae00bced720f964e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022aea70da479bb5aeed4428d274dfd6f44\u0022\u003EHon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) (15:56)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. It\u2019s a pleasure to take a call. There are some good parts of this bill and there are some not so good parts as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe parts that we do not like involve the ability for Government agencies to share information if Ministers agree it is needed to determine entitlement to Government assistance, or if it would help the detection and prosecution of crime. We think this is one of the issues that is problematic. My experience in working with approved information-sharing agreements (AISAs) was during the time I worked at New Zealand Police in the establishment of a gang intelligence centre. In that case, an AISA takes around 18 months to set up, and it sets up a clear, agreed way of information sharing between Government departments. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe reason for that is a very good one. The basic principle about privacy and people\u2019s personal information is that if you provide information to a Government department, it\u2019s only able to be used for the purpose for which it was provided. If that\u2019s health information, it\u2019s used for a health purpose; if that\u2019s housing information, it\u2019s used for a housing purpose. What this bill does, in fact, is it lists a whole lot of agencies where, instead of having an AISA in place, it means that, at the behest of Ministers, private information is able to be shared between different ministries. This is through New Zealand Police, ACC, K\u0101inga Ora, private health information can be shared, New Zealand Transport Agency, National Emergency Management Agency, Ministry for Ethnic Communities, and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. In other words, all of that information can be used for policing purposes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe regulatory impact statement on the Table there shows that the only consultation undertaken with respect to this measure was with the Privacy Commissioner\u2014none of the people and none of the communities impacted by this change. The only options examined were the status quo and the Minister\u2019s option, and the new rules were created at the Minister\u2019s direction. The ability for the Commissioner to collect information for the purposes of informing tax policy will also be repealed. This was a rule that enabled there to be information collected for high-wealth individuals\u2014and we all remember the coverage that got at the time. There were many people who were unhappy about this process. Officials suggested that instead of repealing the rule, it could be retained with strengthened protections around the information collected. They also have said that repealing the rule will reduce Inland Revenue\u2019s ability to collect information solely for the purpose of policy development, which could affect the quality of future policy advice. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ETwo things have happened within this bill: the ability to share information between Government for those purposes, and then the removal of that right to check in on high-wealth individuals. In a nutshell, rich people get to hide their information, and poor people will be subject to information being disclosed at the whim of a Minister. That\u2019s exactly what this bill does. On top of that, as if that wasn\u2019t enough, the disclosure information about trusts will also be repealed by the changes made around trusts. Once again, this means trusts will be able to be a way of hiding. This hole means that a heap of information about who is settling assets on trusts, and who is getting assets and income from trusts, will no longer need to be disclosed\u2014probably helpful for quite a few members on the opposite side with their pecuniary interests. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIt means that trusts can be, again, used to shelter and hide income, rental properties\u2014a whole range of things you could put in there. It can hide income and assets, and it will no longer be possible to trace who really benefits from those trusts. The information collected by this provision was really helpful in understanding how people use trusts and where, sometimes, they get things wrong.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis bill also makes changes\u2014it\u2019s a big mop-up\u2014to the FamilyBoost and it will be able to be made through Order in Council. This will largely enable Ministers to fix the stuff-up that initially got caused because no one was able to claim it at all; there wasn\u2019t able to be one single family who actually benefited from FamilyBoost. So it means that primary legislation will be able to be changed through Order in Council so they can hopefully find some more families who might be able to benefit from it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOne of the concerns that has been raised in and around the $50 in-work tax credit that this facilitates, as we\u2019ve heard in question time today and by subsequent speakers, that there are many, many New Zealanders who may receive a main benefit, even superannuation and also who are working. Those people do not receive the benefit of the in-work tax credit, even if they\u2019re working part-time. That is a real concern for us on this side of the House, because those people are even more marginalised than those who are able to receive the $50.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIt is even more concerning, I think, that some of those people may recently have found themselves out of work due to the multiple closures we\u2019ve seen, the high levels of liquidations, not only in the Wellington region but recently in Hastings and up that way as well, that people who will be finding themselves unemployed\u2014more than ever those people need assistance to go to a job interview. More than ever those people need assistance to be able to feed their families and get groceries. It does seem a real concern that there is a large proportion of people who need assistance in this cost of living crisis who are not receiving it through this legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe know that those fuel prices are soaring. The real view is that this Government has not prepared enough; that this Government\u2019s choices have actually assisted to drive up prices. We\u2019ve seen record lifts in things like basic staples like white bread, mince we\u2019ve heard as well, butter we know\u2014many of these basic items that used to be part of your weekly grocery shop are now unattainable for so many New Zealanders. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, on top of this, we\u2019ve got higher petrol prices on top of all those things that were pushing people more and more into poverty. That is a real concern. Because diesel prices are a big factor and a big threat up in the future, those are the ones that are going to push up food prices even more. So for people who have seen a 60-odd percent increase in white bread and a 23 percent increase in mince, how much further will those items be pushed out of people\u2019s reach? And how much, even if you do get $50 a week, will that actually even help when people are struggling to be able to feed their families?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe believe that this Government has absolutely the wrong priorities for the past few years. The fact that we\u2019ve seen tax breaks provided to tobacco companies\u2014we know that half-price public transport has been axed at a time, instead of providing that funding in that space, half-price public transport would have been a far better investment to make sure that people can get to work, that people can get access to what they\u2019re doing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAlso, there\u2019s a massive concern that there was no real help in terms of electric vehicles; the clean car subsidy being scrapped. Even this week in the House, we heard how there\u2019s going to be all these great electric chargers around the country, but, unfortunately, no one\u2019s purchased a car to be able to plug it in to. So I think they maybe for toothbrushes, I don\u2019t know.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis annual taxation bill includes tax rates for the year as well as a number of other measures. We think the Government could have done better. We could have done a whole lot better for a country that is now facing so much uncertainty in terms of not just food prices, not just rent prices, not just the fact that wages aren\u2019t keeping up with the price of food, but we now have uncertainty in terms of our energy supply. We felt that if there had been investment into areas that assisted that transition instead of just focusing on fossil fuel, New Zealand would\u2019ve been far more equipped for the crisis that we are now seeing going on. That is a big worry. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWhat we\u2019ve seen is that time and time again, this Government has tried to say that they\u2019ve steadied up the ship in a bleak time, but the reality is that jobs have gone down, their poor decisions on cutting key infrastructure projects right across the country have increased unemployment, they\u2019ve driven down wages with damaging legislation that has undermined workers\u2019 rights and wages, they have scrapped pay equity, and they have made life in New Zealand even worse than ever before.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe are not well prepared for the rainy day that is coming. We are well under-prepared. It is the hard-working people in New Zealand who can\u2019t afford to buy food, who can\u2019t afford to drive their cars. I hope that they look to this bill and say, \u201CThank you for the $50 but you could have done a heck of a lot better to help prepare New Zealand for the situation we face.\u201D All we see is those opposite looking after their rich mates but not really giving a damn about the rest of the people who can\u2019t afford to buy the basics for their children each week.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b618b847a57b4afb94b76eaea9e042a5\u0022 data-id=\u002282dd1073083dc3ea3c1422e5a5bc447c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b618b847a57b4afb94b76eaea9e042a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002282dd1073083dc3ea3c1422e5a5bc447c\u0022\u003EDr CARLOS CHEUNG (National\u2014Mt Roskill) (16:06)\u003C/span\u003E: The rise in petrol costs is putting pressure on the working families in Mt Roskill and we understand that we need to support them. That\u2019s why this Government is willing to provide a temporary increase in the rate of the in-work tax credit by $50 a week. This policy will help ease the pressure on hard-working families in Mt Roskill. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2025\u201326, Compliance Simplification, and Remedial Measures) Bill be now read a third time\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003EAyes 102\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 49; New Zealand Labour 34; ACT New Zealand 11; New Zealand First 8.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003ENoes 19\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EGreen Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 14; Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 4; Ferris.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBill read a third time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002212dff56331192c9e2e2f7bd257fd9276\u0022\u003EImmigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00220a79e4efce76f0c0a9fc43a868d4baaf\u0022\u003ELegislative Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f2816ad717d73f1caab51bedf7d90a21\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The Hon Chris Penk. That was very prompt.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022624b5e5ecd274e178a4554c1ae59f723\u0022 data-id=\u0022e53db46caf0cd8dd5037452680da6545\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022624b5e5ecd274e178a4554c1ae59f723\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e53db46caf0cd8dd5037452680da6545\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK (Associate Minister of Immigration) (16:08)\u003C/span\u003E: on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Immigration\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you. So keen, Madam Speaker. I present a legislative statement on the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f34b91cc2dd00f455db3622508645d31\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002257e8338d68cd87e1dcfa5cf2bc1ac24d\u0022\u003EFirst Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022624b5e5ecd274e178a4554c1ae59f723\u0022 data-id=\u00221f449163698bfecb3fcf284abecccb2c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022624b5e5ecd274e178a4554c1ae59f723\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221f449163698bfecb3fcf284abecccb2c\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK (Associate Minister of Immigration) (16:08)\u003C/span\u003E: on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Immigration\u003C/span\u003E: I move, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill be now read a first time\u003C/span\u003E. I nominate the Education and Workforce Committee to consider the bill. At the appropriate time, I intend to move that the bill be reported to the House by 14 August 2026.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EImmigration is critical to New Zealand\u2019s and New Zealanders\u2019 success. Put quite simply, without immigration, New Zealand cannot thrive, grow, or deliver the aspirations that we have for future generations. Smart, targeted, and fair immigration settings make New Zealand richer in every possible way. Since coming into Government, we have taken steps to change settings so that the immigration system is more fit for purpose, address migrant exploitation, prevents the erosion of the social licence for immigration, and rebalances our approach to risk and verification.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe are at the challenging intersection of needing to facilitate genuine migrants and employers, while adapting to new and innovative ways that some people use to try to get around the checks and balances that protect New Zealand. That is why, even as we have made the system smarter, faster, and fairer, producing processing times, refining the accredited employer work visa, improving investment settings like Active Investor Plus, and making the skilled migrant category more facilitative to help employers retain the skills our economy needs, we have also strengthened integrity and consequences where rules are abused.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELast year, we passed the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Act to close gaps on exploitation, respond to the recommendations of independent reviews, and ensure the immigration system can\u2019t operate flexibly and is fiscally sustainable. I am proud of the improvements that the Government has made\u2014and, of course, these have been in the name of our colleague and friend the Hon Erica Stanford\u2014but there is more to do to protect the integrity of the system and to maintain social licence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe geopolitical context is changing, and immigration risks are increasing in scale and complexity. It is important that settings are tight to manage immigration risk, clamp down on exploitative behaviour, and ensure that our immigration settings are working for New Zealand. Nothing erodes public confidence faster than a sense that rules are being ignored or that serious offending goes without consequence. This bill provides practical, targeted improvements so that our immigration system can detect, deter, and respond to risk in a firm but fair way, welcoming those who contribute while being clear eyed about misuse and criminal behaviour.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill has three objectives: (1) to increase the effectiveness of immigration compliance and enforcement, (2) to improve the integrity of the refugee and protection system, and (3) to improve the operation of the wider immigration system. It complements the improvements already made through the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Act by sharpening front-line tools, modernising processes, and having consequences that are fair and proportionate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI\u2019ll now talk through the key proposals briefly. Residence in New Zealand is a privilege, not a right, and it comes with responsibilities. These include respecting our laws and the safety of others. The bill extends the period during which a resident visa holder may become liable for deportation following criminal offending from 10 years to 20 years. This change retains the graduated framework, with deportation liability scaled to the seriousness of offending and the length of time the person has held residence. At the same time, it ensures that longer-term residents who commit very serious offences, such as murder or sexual assault, can no longer evade deportation liability.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill also makes minor changes to clarify existing deportation liability settings. It strengthens the consequences for migrants providing false or misleading information at any stage of the immigration process and makes clear that this can trigger deportation liability. Other clarifications include: that serious historic offending can give rise to deportation liability; when deportation liability resets after extended periods overseas; and that a person may be liable for deportation if a visa was granted unlawfully under the Act.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill also expands victims\u2019 rights to submit on deportation liability proceedings, so that any victim of a migrant offender may provide submissions on that offender\u2019s appeal against deportation, not just the victims of the specific offence that triggered deportation liability. Migrant exploitation causes significant harm to individuals, undermines fair competition, and damages the integrity of our immigration system. In short, it will not be tolerated.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill increases the maximum penalty for migrant exploitation to 10 years\u2019 imprisonment, better reflecting the harm that exploitation causes. It also extends the practical time frame for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to issue employer infringement notices to six years after the offending occurred, recognising that exploitation is often reported only after an employment relationship has broken down and that complex investigations can take time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill also establishes two new employer-focused infringement offences: first, for providing incorrect or incomplete information\u2014for example, in an accreditation or job-check application\u2014and second, for failing to provide wage and time record documents when requested. These changes strengthen the tools available to address non-compliant employer behaviour and enable timely action.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ETo improve the effectiveness of immigration compliance activity, the bill adjusts the threshold under which immigration officers can request basic identity information. This will enable immigration officers to request information when they have good cause to suspect a person may be liable for deportation or turn-around or may be in breach of their visa conditions. This change will make an existing power workable. It is not, and will not become, a general stopping power or a tool for random checks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill removes humanitarian appeals rights to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal\u2014known as the IPT\u2014for all visitor visa holders and for temporary visa holders who have committed criminal offences. This recognises the different status and expectations of temporary versus resident migrants and reinforces the expectation that people who are here temporarily comply with their visa conditions and the law or face timely consequences.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill allows border staff to refuse entry to some people who are usually treated as having automatic permission to enter New Zealand such as air crew or maritime arrivals found to be smuggling goods or drugs. This enables swift and efficient action at the border.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ETo improve the integrity of the refugee and protection system, the bill removes the ability of an asylum claimant who withdraws their asylum claim from applying for other visas while they remain in New Zealand. This change is intended to prevent misuse of the system by individuals who make unmeritorious claims to access alternative immigration pathways.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill also shifts residence and reporting requirements agreements from being \u201Cabsolute discretion\u201D to \u201Cdiscretion\u201D decisions, implementing the final legislative recommendation of Victoria Casey\u2019s 2022 review into the detention of asylum seekers. This will ensure that these decisions are accompanied by reasons and subject to oversight. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill modernises information-sharing provisions in the Act to better support compliance and risk management, with appropriate transparency and privacy safeguards. It also clarifies MBIE\u2019s ability to issue and contribute to digital credentials for identity and immigration status verification, enables in-progress resident applicants to opt into new policy settings without withdrawing and reapplying, and allows deportation liability notices to be served electronically where a person has no known physical address.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill was developed with input from a wide range of stakeholders. Their feedback has strengthened and improved the bill, and I know that the Minister of Immigration welcomes further robust scrutiny at the select committee stage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIn addition to the amendments already in the bill, the Minister of Immigration has also recently tabled a parliamentary paper outlining seven amendments to improve the integrity of the refugee protection\u2014that is to say, asylum\u2014system. New Zealand continues to experience a large number of asylum claims, consistent with global trends. There are some 4,000 claims on hand. At first glance, it would appear that many of these claims are manifestly unfounded, which puts pressure on the system, disadvantages genuine claimants, and risks the system\u2019s social licence. The changes that are being proposed now will protect the integrity of the refugee and protection system and support efficient processing. To ensure appropriate scrutiny, the Hon Erica Stanford has written to the chair of the Education and Workforce Committee and requested that they seek public submissions on these additional proposals at the same time they call for submissions on the wider bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis is a practical and measured bill. It equips MBIE with modern, proportionate tools, protects migrants from exploitation, secures the integrity of the refugee and protection system, and ensures that New Zealand has an immigration system that is welcoming to those who contribute as well as being firm with those who abuse it. With that, Madam Speaker, thank you, and I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e169419008a9f93aeb9ddaad507e5651\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=\u00229f071e5323b640f383726a46f39e8187\u0022 data-id=\u00221cbf805e280894347bb0966b5f0f78bf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229f071e5323b640f383726a46f39e8187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221cbf805e280894347bb0966b5f0f78bf\u0022\u003EHon PHIL TWYFORD (Labour\u2014Te Atat\u016B) (16:17)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you. Labour is very open to supporting reforms that make our immigration system fairer, more transparent, more efficient, and run in the interests of New Zealand, and our voting record in this House shows that. This bill contains a couple of dozen mostly small changes to the immigration system\u2014and be assured that we will carefully scrutinise the bill at select committee to see if any of these reforms will genuinely improve the system\u2014but we will not be voting for this bill, and here is why.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis bill is a pretty naked exercise in election-year politicking at the expense of migrants and refugees. The Minister of Immigration wants to look tough. She came back from the Five Country Immigration Ministers\u2019 meeting in London late last year, where all of the talk was about irregular migration pressures, visa abuse, and removals policy, and where, along with Erica Stanford, Ministers from Australia, Canada, the US, and the UK all agreed they needed to get tough, and get tough together.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis is not a bill that is based on fixing any particular real-world problem; what it is is performative election-year politics. I am pretty sure that it was after one of these Five Country Immigration Ministers\u2019 meetings when Erica Stanford came back to her officials and said, \u201CLook, we\u2019ve only got a tiny fraction of the irregular migration of those countries, but let\u2019s get tough anyway. Let\u2019s crack down. Get me a list of the things that we can do to show that we\u2019re not a soft touch.\u201D That list of things that her officials came back to her with is now this bill. We will genuinely dig into it at select committee and here at committee of the whole House, and we will hold them up to the light.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis bill\u2019s removal of the right to appeal deportation on humanitarian grounds by people who hold visitor visas will do damage to our immigration system. Remember, this is a right to appeal. It is the right to a fair process and an even-handed justice system. Last year, nearly 50 percent of successful humanitarian appeals\u2014successful appeals, remember\u2014were made by Pacific people dealing with exceptional humanitarian circumstances. That\u2019s the description in the legislation: exceptional humanitarian circumstances\u2014for instance, families needing support, raising children with disabilities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EHaving been an Associate Minister of Immigration, and as an MP who does a lot of immigration advocacy, I can tell the House that there\u2019s no shortage of cases where Immigration New Zealand has made a sequence of poor decisions, where the interests of the children have not been given the weight required under our international treaty obligations. Justice is, in a significant number of cases, only finally delivered through an appeal to the tribunal on exceptional humanitarian circumstances. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s Simon Graham from the New Zealand Law Society, who says, \u201CCurrent policy balances individual rights and the public interest, but [this] proposed legislation would shift the goalposts against vulnerable people, especially children and families\u201D. He goes on to say, \u201CYou could have a child born here, only ever gone through the New Zealand educational system \u2026 [now] being asked to return back to a country [where they\u2019ve never lived], [facing] language barriers [and a] different educational system\u201D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI say to the Minister, think carefully before you shut down that avenue for appeal. Our social cohesion in New Zealand is too precious to be put at risk by this cheap politics. We cannot survive and we cannot thrive without immigrants coming to this country. They make us better and stronger, and in New Zealand we have a pretty decent track record of respecting the rights of refugees. Stunts like this bill put all that at risk. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ECan I get 10 minutes?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f5260c2993b771b3b9bdbe844753556c\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s the first reading, so you only get five.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022 data-id=\u0022fa1e9f27bbda227c3bb3e0d767163891\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fa1e9f27bbda227c3bb3e0d767163891\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH (Green) (16:23)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is a Trump administration - inspired, MAGA-loving piece of legislation that deserves to be put in the bin. If you heard the Associate Minister of Immigration\u2019s contribution, you would think that this is a completely different bill from the one I have in front of me. In the bill itself, it\u2019s quite clear: this is a bill that seeks to demonise and target undocumented migrants by giving more powers to our immigration officials to target them if they suspect that they may be in breach of their visa conditions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe scenes that we\u2019ve seen in the United States with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2014which the closest thing we have here is called Immigration Compliance and Investigations\u2014where families are being separated, torn apart, and lives are being destroyed, did not happen overnight. The scenes from the United States were the product of successive Governments dismantling the rights of asylum seekers and migrants, and giving immigration officials more powers to target migrant communities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI particularly want to focus on the provisions that give immigration officials more power to target migrant communities for just simply being \u201Csuspicious\u201D or looking suspicious, because, in Erica Stanford\u2019s own words, when she was trying to justify this provision, she said, \u201CWe have a big overstayer problem, tens of thousands more than we suspected\u201D. Shortly after, she had to apologise for literally misleading people, trying to make them believe that there were tens of thousands more undocumented migrants in this country when that was not the case\u2014exactly the types of tactics that the Trump administration uses, where people simply make up figures to justify punching down on migrant communities. She had to apologise to the media shortly after. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002225c45dd0600c9ccc46aaa7e7dd93d784\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think we might want to be a little bit careful of accusing. People could make mistakes. I think you\u2019d want to be careful\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227117c87d7acb52e42ae9900e095b1f42\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH\u003C/span\u003E: And they should be careful, I agree, Madam Speaker\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002265ce9f6c4d973e3ad61b3dd19cb75b89\u0022\u003ECarl Bates\u003C/span\u003E: Come on!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ce21038302ae9395e2f9bcba6e246db0\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014of saying this was deliberate. Excuse me, I\u2019m actually speaking. I\u2019m just asking the House to be careful when making an accusation about somebody, whether it may have been a mistake or accusing someone of it being deliberate\u2014and referring to politicians in other countries, as an example. I\u2019ll just ask the member to just tone the language down, please.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c066ab737fd0f50f0d0e2fe4568834a5\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH\u003C/span\u003E: We deserve far better than a Minister scapegoating migrant communities to justify a bill that will target them. Madam Speaker, I make no apology for calling out the Minister for continuously punching down on migrant communities, particularly undocumented migrants, when it is politically convenient.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe bill itself, you would believe it\u2019s about migrant exploitation and addressing criminal behaviour, but as the previous speaker, Phil Twyford, noted, this bill takes away the right of migrants to appeal on humanitarian grounds when they\u2019re on visitor visas, which is actually one of the last precarious stages that migrants may find themselves in before becoming undocumented, often because they experience trafficking or they may have experienced exploitation themselves. As somebody who has fought both Chris Penk and Phil Twyford in the previous Government in trying to stop deportations, I do know, too, that many times the Immigration and Protection Tribunal does not consider the rights and the wellbeing of children when it comes to these appeals, and I know for a fact that Associate Ministers of Immigration often fail to do so themselves. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI am astounded, as well, by the examples we\u2019ve been given to justify these additional provisions to grant immigration officials more power. To use examples like creating and conjuring scenarios where migrant sex workers may be found in a home where, for example, a compliance officer may be going into, just reeks of scapegoating\u2014some of our migrant communities that are actually most vulnerable to exploitation because we have decided to criminalise their existence. This bill does very little to actually address migrant exploitation, and if the Government was serious about addressing migrant exploitation, they would have not cut the support that migrants who have been exploited can receive by cutting the duration of the migrant exploitation protection work visa in half.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis Government, for as much as they want to claim that this is not about targeting migrants, received advice explicitly telling them, when it came to population impacts, that Pacific communities are more likely to be targeted by these provisions, because they are already targeted by deportations. We know that this bill will increase systemic discrimination that brown and black communities face here in Aotearoa, and we deserve a Minister that is upfront and clear about the intent. She can\u2019t go on the media and talk about how overstayers and undocumented migrants are a big problem, then have her Associate Minister here tell us that this bill is just, basically, a boring piece of legislation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe Green Party will be opposing this bill, and we make it clear that if the Government wants to lift working conditions of people, they can do so by lifting wages, by creating jobs, and by treating migrant communities with the dignity and respect that they deserve. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bff04875b66ebbf1f089443eb9ede643\u0022\u003EAndy Foster\u003C/span\u003E: Fast track.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002222843c3e615d79fe7753df5c057f6af1\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH\u003C/span\u003E: This is the \u201CFast Track to Deportation Bill\u201D\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248ce26e54d83406399b875df20400dec\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022be49730ad5f8ed2682d577428e4ba97d\u0022\u003EAndy Foster\u003C/span\u003E: Fast track mining.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bae96036b2bab9aad7731b4a5632013a\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and mining has nothing to do with it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222c8be3bd9cc452e230de2f2f9351edb1\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\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=\u00221a30b7d60a03452cb9b736efc6896cdb\u0022 data-id=\u002214d5a83602e675d1b096ea6beee79ef1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221a30b7d60a03452cb9b736efc6896cdb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002214d5a83602e675d1b096ea6beee79ef1\u0022\u003EDr PARMJEET PARMAR (ACT) (16:28)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I\u2019m taking this call on behalf of the ACT Party to support the first reading of the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI\u2019m not surprised that the Green Party is opposing this bill, because this bill is about strengthening our immigration system. We know that immigration is important for us. Immigration is an area that is evolving really fast. We are learning a lot of things as we go, and we want to make sure that our immigration system is able to respond to the kind of risks that we are seeing out there, the kind of exploitation cases we see, and all kinds of serious wrongdoing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EImmigration is important, as I said before, and, of course, there will be some people who will be looking at me and saying \u201COf course she\u2019s going to say that immigration is important, because she\u2019s an immigrant.\u201D, but let them think what they want to think. I want to say this, that it is the reality of our nation; we need people coming from other parts of the world to New Zealand to support our economy, to support our communities. This is actually our identity. We have people, those who have been there five years, 10 years, shorter than that; other people who have been here for 500 years, 700 years, as migrants and generations of migrants. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe need to ensure we have enough safeguards to ensure that people, those who are coming here, are able to deliver according to the expectations of New Zealanders and the standards that we apply here. Especially those people who come on temporary visas, and including those who have a residence class visa. The trust in our immigration system is really important. That\u2019s why this bill is really timely. This bill actually strengthens our immigration system.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThere are a number of changes that this bill makes. There is just one change that I want to talk about in this bill, because I\u2019m proposing an amendment to one of the provisions in this proposed legislation. This is regarding the extension of deportation liability for residence class visa holders. If they commit criminal offending which is punishable with a sentence of imprisonment of 10 years or more, there is deportation liability of 10 years. In this proposed legislation, it is being increased from 10 to 20 years. Now, the question here is: why should consequences expire after 10 years or 20 years if somebody is on a residence class visa? I am proposing an amendment that it should be an unlimited period\u2014the extension of deportation liability should be for an unlimited period\u2014and I\u2019m talking about serious criminal offending. It\u2019s a change that the ACT Party is proposing. After my contribution\u2014my speech here in the House\u2014I will be writing to the Minister for her consideration of my proposed amendment and I\u2019ll be sending a letter to the select committee as well, so that this amendment can be explored in the select committee process too.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOverall, we want to make sure that there are enough safeguards in our immigration system to protect New Zealanders, to see that those who are coming here understand our laws, they understand that we have some expectations of those who have residence class visas and those who come on other visas as well. But this is particularly about residence class visa holders. With that, the ACT Party is supporting the first reading of this bill. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f36277cb754947fa93977a31a33abd49\u0022 data-id=\u0022dde4fa8a9bbb09e2cec3d9996d510963\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f36277cb754947fa93977a31a33abd49\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dde4fa8a9bbb09e2cec3d9996d510963\u0022\u003EHon CASEY COSTELLO (Associate Minister of Immigration) (16:32)\u003C/span\u003E: I rise on behalf of New Zealand First to speak on the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill, and, hopefully. to bring some proportional response back to the emotive language we\u2019ve heard already in the House. Our immigration system is robust. New Zealand First has always put New Zealand and New Zealanders first, and our immigration system should reflect the fact that we support and protect New Zealanders and those who call New Zealand home.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis immigration amendment bill is about bringing some proportional controls back to protect the integrity of the system, not just to protect the system but to protect those who are in the system. This is what has been lost in the narrative we\u2019ve heard today. We need to ensure that abuse of the system is held accountable, that those who are here as refugees and migrants are respected because everyone knows that they have complied with the process and the rules, and those who do not abide by those rules and abuse New Zealand laws are held accountable for it. This is a long-held New Zealand First principle. That is why we are fully in support of this legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIn closing, because I think it is important we get this bill through the House today, we have to recognise, as the philosopher Russell Kirk said: \u201CEvery right is married to a duty; every freedom owes a corresponding responsibility\u201D. This piece of legislation will ensure those duties and responsibilities are upheld. We commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c02fb4e54a126d86906f4409e799b8c9\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The Hon James Meager. We\u2019re having some close calls this afternoon.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225459b3c0726d42c1b6d3cc94ec303baa\u0022 data-id=\u0022401bf1a3dd4bd61e92c2334805dfd0aa\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225459b3c0726d42c1b6d3cc94ec303baa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022401bf1a3dd4bd61e92c2334805dfd0aa\u0022\u003EHon JAMES MEAGER (Minister for Hunting and Fishing) (16:33)\u003C/span\u003E: I was waiting for another party to take a call. If this isn\u2019t Pol Pot calling the kettle black. In 2015, the Labour Party has a policy whereby they blamed people with Chinese-sounding surnames for the housing crisis in Auckland. In 2017, the Green Party had an explicit immigration population cap as part of their policy, saying that it would be limited to 1 percent of population growth\u2014once you hit the cap, no more immigration.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EThat is the quality of argument from the other side of the House. This is a sensible change to immigration laws, which is reflected in countries like, Canada, led by the Liberals; in countries like the United Kingdom, led by the Labour Party; and countries like Australia, also led by the Labor Party. It\u2019s good policy. I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220750364c2c1444d0ae00bced720f964e\u0022 data-id=\u002269f87caea6a871ec2a3c50f06790ab7c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220750364c2c1444d0ae00bced720f964e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002269f87caea6a871ec2a3c50f06790ab7c\u0022\u003EHon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) (16:34)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. This bill is really concerning in some areas. I think we\u2019re right to highlight the concerns that we have. I\u2019m really looking forward to the select committee process and to drilling down into some of the ways that this bill is actually going to operate. Many of the bill\u2019s provisions seem petty and pretty punitive, with no clear evidence base or policy provided to justify them. But, nevertheless, we will give them serious scrutiny as a select committee. It\u2019s always important, with our immigration system, to get that balance right between having risk to our general population, but also making sure that we have a fair immigration system. That\u2019s what the select committee is for: to make sure that this bill does get that balance right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe Minister\u2019s rhetoric alone in announcing this bill has been quite concerning. She says that New Zealand is currently a soft touch, which we do not agree on. She talked about refugees and asylum seekers in the same breath as mentioning murderers and sex offenders. The number of such offenders are so tiny, and our criminal justice system and immigration system can adequately deal with them. She did promise a hard-line crackdown right off her overseas trip. The Minister is really quite fond of going overseas and importing some other ideas, not only in our immigration system but also in our education system.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOur social cohesion in New Zealand is too precious to be put at risk with this kind of cheap politics. What this bill actually does is it doubles how long someone on a residence class visa is liable for deportation following criminal offending from 10 to 20 years. It expands who can be deported based on false and misleading submissions, historic crimes committed overseas, and also administrative errors. This bill also removes the ability for visitor visa and temporary visa holders to appeal deportation to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal on humanitarian grounds. As a previous Associate Minister of Immigration who had to consider those individual cases of people that come before you, it is really important that there is a humanitarian focus to our immigration system. We know that when things are put through the machine of immigration, they don\u2019t always get it right. There are instances where families, where children, where seniors are put in absolutely unacceptable conditions. We believe that we should preserve that human element within our immigration system and not remove it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis bill also ensures that victims of serious offences committed by migrants will have the right to be heard during their offender\u2019s deportation proceedings, whether or not the offence against them is the basis of the offender\u2019s liability for deportation. In terms of migrant exploitation, it extends the maximum prison sentence for migrant exploitation offending from seven to 10 years, and it creates new employer infringement offences relating to providing incorrect or incomplete information to the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE). This extends the time frame that MBIE has to issue infringement notices and also to serve employer infringement notices. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s really important that we say that Labour is open to supporting reforms that do make our system fairer, that are more efficient, and run in the interests of New Zealand. On a first read of this bill, we\u2019re not sure whether that balance is struck. We will carefully scrutinise the bill to see if any of these reforms do genuinely improve our immigration system. But, on the face of it, this bill\u2019s removal of the right to appeal deportation on humanitarian grounds by people who commit serious crimes will do damage to our immigration system, for it removes that ability to have a human face to understand it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis bill is going to be one where I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll get a wide range of submissions from different parts of New Zealand, and we really encourage everybody who has a view, who is impacted, and has advice to make sure those submissions come to select committee. I\u2019m looking forward to hearing them and we\u2019ll wait and see exactly what the detail is on this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022 data-id=\u0022d00402c2424b8be032f6305b69ee1551\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290f442a79aea4ce0aeae083763135935\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d00402c2424b8be032f6305b69ee1551\u0022\u003ECARL BATES (National\u2014Whanganui) (16:39)\u003C/span\u003E: The first half of Phil Twyford\u2019s speech was more fictional than the children\u2019s book I\u2019m going to read to my kids when I get home this evening. It didn\u2019t even reflect the reality of the journey that this policy has been on in order to get to this House. You see, work started on this bill in March last year; Cabinet decisions were taken mid-year, in June and July; and key policy decisions were released in October.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EPeople on temporary visas can still appeal to the Associate Minister of Immigration. Phil Twyford needs to read the bill, get with the programme, and support the bill. Therefore, I commend it to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022 data-id=\u0022476c8a163f6b4615903b03686bfc0df3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022476c8a163f6b4615903b03686bfc0df3\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central) (16:40)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Look, it\u2019s just a little troubling to hear the kind of\u2014I don\u2019t know\u2014vitriol coming from the other side, because\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ff1376435a6db0bed051b8066504514b\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, it\u2019s come from both sides, but I\u2019m not going to say it\u2019s come from the Labour Party team, because it hasn\u2019t\u2014OK?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ab32b09663ea48b199aa59e4d88f77e4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f15da5ac5e89de4ccbae708ae6b74e8c\u0022\u003ETim Costley\u003C/span\u003E: Oh yes, it has.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002277c6b7228f1e690476af90d2666b01d6\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Not vitriol\u2014no.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260ffb4fb2b509a1da4a72576eb394003\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB\u003C/span\u003E: Who\u2019s doing this debate?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224651c4225789c13a72cb3ce4570597c1\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: You are.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220618edaaee3af6c1e725e6e7436f41c1\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha\u2014OK! This is actually a really important issue. Here we are, talking about new New Zealanders of a number of classes, and when their right to be in New Zealand can be taken from them, and, obviously, asylum seekers and refugees are a really important class. New Zealand has a proud history of accepting people who are from conflict zones or who are oppressed in their home country and giving them refuge here, including people who arrive and claim asylum, and so I think that we need to be really cautious when we start amending those frameworks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EFor example, I\u2019m looking at one change where individuals won\u2019t be allowed to apply for a visa if they\u2019ve claimed asylum and have then withdrawn that claim for asylum. Now, it strikes me that that may have some perverse outcomes. A really good example would be where someone comes to New Zealand and claims asylum, and then, by dint of being in New Zealand for some time, qualifies for another visa class. They might be going through the asylum process\u2014which can take many, many years\u2014and at the same time they might marry a New Zealand citizen, but they couldn\u2019t apply for a partnership visa if they were to withdraw their asylum application, which seems madness, because it\u2019s much more sensible to say that they don\u2019t need asylum any more because they are in a relationship with a New Zealand citizen, and the law would recognise an alternative pathway for them to reside here rather than the arduous asylum pathway, which requires a lot of investigation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe other thing was that I was troubled to hear was Parmjeet Parmar talking about having an unlimited period of time for which a criminal conviction would result in deportation. I have actually worked in this space\u2014not a great deal, but I\u2019ve done a number of cases in this area, both as a lawyer and as an MP\u2014and I just wanted to point out that this is where we get to with the 20-year rule, right? If we have someone who arrived in New Zealand as a six-year-old who has a student visa through to university and who has a residence class visa from leaving university young, at 20, then, until they are 39, that person will have held a residence class visa for 19 years whilst having been in New Zealand since they were six. And if that person commits an offence, don\u2019t get me wrong: I agree that we should deport serious criminals who are new to New Zealand and who have abused that. But for someone who arrived at six and who is now 39, that is a 501 situation\u2014the 501 situation that we have vilified our Australian cousins for, and I\u2019m not sure we\u2019d want to put ourselves in the same situation of then reducing appeal rights. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve had debates in this House about what\u2019s going on in the world and the need for a rules-based order and the importance of the rule of law. The ability to challenge, not at the behest of a Minister\u2019s discretion, but on the basis of established principles of what is a humanitarian ground and how to balance the family\u2014because these humanitarian grounds are often, in fact, about the interests of the wider family. An offender may be a caregiver for young children. They may have a network of relationships and they may be the only earner, and so if that person is deported, their family is left parentless and incomeless. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThose are the kinds of things that that Government doesn\u2019t want to be under consideration, and so, as my friends have said, we will look at this closely. We\u2019re not opposed to any change, but we do think that real care is needed to be taken. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002288978fb9592a4911a8e47eae04d164f3\u0022 data-id=\u002279928fc291fb5d3fe6f2b1a5b4363534\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002288978fb9592a4911a8e47eae04d164f3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002279928fc291fb5d3fe6f2b1a5b4363534\u0022\u003EDr VANESSA WEENINK (National\u2014Banks Peninsula) (16:45)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It\u2019s a pleasure to take a call on the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill in its first reading. This will be coming to the Education and Workforce Committee, on which I sit. One of the changes that I\u2019m looking forward to seeing\u2014which I think is very sensible\u2014is that if there are new changes to the immigration instructions that happen while somebody is having their application for residence looked at that would be beneficial to them, then that is automatically applied to their application. I think that that is a very sensible change, and I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill be now read a first time\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000443\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=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000444\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=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000445\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=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 14; Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 4; Ferris.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBill read a first time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022fde9c6a527ee1bd46000a8060615f483\u0022\u003EReferral to Select Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022 data-id=\u0022c9ff6569e5b5cd017ceb0ae7a92fea22\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c9ff6569e5b5cd017ceb0ae7a92fea22\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER (16:47)\u003C/span\u003E: The question is, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill be considered by the Education and Workforce Committee\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBill referred to the Education and Workforce Committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002239b402348a95f138a6d016a925286af3\u0022\u003EInstruction to Select Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225459b3c0726d42c1b6d3cc94ec303baa\u0022 data-id=\u00228cbddc06a8173f16e580518c10f50c74\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225459b3c0726d42c1b6d3cc94ec303baa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228cbddc06a8173f16e580518c10f50c74\u0022\u003EHon JAMES MEAGER (Minister for Hunting and Fishing) (16:47)\u003C/span\u003E: on behalf of the \u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBold\u0022\u003EMinister of Immigration\u003C/span\u003E: I move, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill be reported to the House by 14 August 2026\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the motion be agreed to\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000456\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=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000457\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=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000458\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=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 14; Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 4; Ferris.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d479fab1a3fa70a15903ac5f6f78bb77\u0022\u003ECommerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00220fd570aba72a8407eb6846db6a42ec15\u0022\u003ELegislative Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022 data-id=\u0022176fbd8e997d1116577971101398166a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022176fbd8e997d1116577971101398166a\u0022\u003EHon SCOTT SIMPSON (Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs) (16:48)\u003C/span\u003E: I present a legislative statement on the Commerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022911beb35e809e508959174d4e3b5b895\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00224359fd1347f293cdf90c683f20276a5f\u0022\u003EFirst Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022 data-id=\u0022c213f8af94c160f86ca7b4878beac5bb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c213f8af94c160f86ca7b4878beac5bb\u0022\u003EHon SCOTT SIMPSON (Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs) (16:49)\u003C/span\u003E: I move, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Commerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill be now read a first time\u003C/span\u003E. In doing so, I nominate the Finance and Expenditure Committee to consider the bill. At the appropriate time, I intend to move that the bill be reported back to the House by 27 July 2026. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis review of the Commerce Commission was prompted by a thorough and very timely review led by Dame Paula Rebstock in association with Professor Allan Fels and David Hunt, and I thank them for their work. The Commerce Commission is New Zealand\u2019s competition and consumer protection agency. This Government is committed to growing the economy and improving outcomes for New Zealand businesses and consumers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe competitive and well-performing markets that we aspire to provide one of the foundations for achieving this goal. To do this, we need world-class competition laws and competition institutions. In December 2025, I introduced the Commerce (Promoting Competition and Other Matters) Amendment Bill to strengthen and enhance New Zealand\u2019s economy-wide competition law. Today, we are considering a bill which reforms the Commerce Commission\u2019s governance and decision-making arrangements to further lift its performance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis bill gives effect to the Government\u2019s response to the independent review of the Commerce Commission that was led by Dame Paula Rebstock, which I\u2019ve already mentioned. The commission is a quality regulatory enforcement agency, which has a high degree of public trust and confidence. However, the external environment in which the commission operates increasingly raises significant challenges for regulators and the New Zealand economy. These include significant technological change, disruptions to trade and supply chains, structural shifts as we move to a low-emissions and increasingly service-based economy, and, of course, our primary producers and others exporting to the world. These significant challenges make it critical to have a knowledge-based regulator that invests in capacity. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe growth of the commission\u2019s regulatory responsibility has put its traditional commission governance model under strain. The dual role of commissioners as both governors and regulatory decision makers is not easily scalable. With the expanded mandate, commissioners are being drawn deeper into complex and time-intensive decision-making in their respective areas, often compartmentalised and in organisational silos. The review found that this compromised commissioners\u2019 abilities to focus on the commission\u2019s strategy and governance issues and to hold each other to account. Given the full-time nature of the commissioner\u2019s expanded role, there is no strong outside-in perspective at the governance table, nor is there a flexible means to draw on additional external expertise and commercial experience in regulatory decision-making. This has the propensity to compromise the quality of the commission\u2019s engagements with its stakeholders and the commission\u2019s effectiveness overall. Ultimately, this can draw out decision-making processes and undermine a whole-of-commission approach. The commission is working to address some of those issues identified in the review. However, legislation is required to improve the pace and direction of change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ETo the bill: this bill makes structural changes to the commission\u2019s governance and decision-making arrangements while retaining the commission\u2019s statutory independence. A board will be established as the governance body for the commission, consistent with Crown entities and their framework. Board members will be mainly part time and able to bring an outside perspective, including commercial nous and savvy, to the commission\u2019s strategy and performance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIn addition, the sector-specific named commissioner mechanism will be phased out to promote a whole-of-commission cohesive focus at board level. Regulatory decision-making will primarily be performed by expert regulatory committees under delegation from the board. These regulatory committees must comply with a charter and all relevant policies and procedures set by the board to promote timely and action-orientated decision-making. A new panel of commissioners will be established\u2014people with relevant expertise and experience to perform the commission\u2019s regulatory functions. These commissioners will be the core of the membership of the regulatory committees. These regulatory decision-making arrangements will ensure that decisions are made by persons with the relevant expertise and experience based on best information. Regulatory decision-making will also be aligned to the commission\u2019s overall strategy and organisational plans and subject to appropriate board and judicial oversight.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI want to spend a moment talking about the transitional arrangements for this new structure. It\u2019s intended that this new structure will come into effect on 1 July 2027. As a transitional measure, the current chair, Dr John Small, will be the inaugural chair of the new board and chief commissioner. The current deputy chair of the commission will also be a member of the new board and the inaugural deputy chief commissioner. Other existing commissioners, including the telecommunications and groceries commissioners, will be transitioned to the new panel for the remainder of their terms.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAs members may be aware, the commission routinely publishes guidance material that sets out how it interprets and applies the Commerce Act in its investigations and decisions. This guidance provides clarity and predictability for businesses, consumers, and the market. However, courts are not required to have regard to the commission\u2019s guidance. To support greater certainty over time, I\u2019ve asked the select committee to consider options for elevating the status of the commission\u2019s guidance for Parts 2 and 3 so that guidance plays a more formal role in promoting certainty and predictability across the Act. This could involve, for instance, amending the Act to provide that courts must or may have regard to the guidance when interpreting or applying the Act.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIn conclusion, I consider that these new governance and decision-making arrangements will lift the overall performance of the commission, moving it from good to great. I want to thank John Small and the commission for their cooperation with these reforms and all staff for their dedication and thorough diligence. I also, again, want to thank Dame Paula Rebstock, Professor Allan Fels, and David Hunt for their hard work on the independent review of the commission. Colleagues, I commend parties with an interest in the commission to participate in the select committee process and to consider the bill at select committee. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022676579e0954a0aab8b31a16dcabed67d\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u0027Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: The question is the motion be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223de6e6d6d57d40b483b9b558769ce301\u0022 data-id=\u00220e98e916245bad54d7dcbc3a625b8a22\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223de6e6d6d57d40b483b9b558769ce301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220e98e916245bad54d7dcbc3a625b8a22\u0022\u003EARENA WILLIAMS (Labour\u2014Manurewa) (16:57)\u003C/span\u003E: An affordable New Zealand depends on an economy that is delivering for everyone, and competition is a key ingredient in that. What do we have here from the Government? An opportunity to make a once-in-a-generation reorganisation of our regulator, which should be tooled up with not only the regulatory tool box that it needs to take swift and decisive action against anti-competitive behaviour and the funding it needs to do so clearly, with good information. This is a missed opportunity, though. We had a panel here that the Minister has ably described as well equipped to undertake the review\u2014Dame Paula Rebstock and Professor Allan Fels, who is something of a hero of mine, a titan of the council of trade unions in Australia and the author of an excellent report on price gouging.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EInstead, what we\u2019ve got is a Minister that has made decisions to step back what could have been an excellent piece of reform that would have given us the regulator that we need\u2014tough but fair\u2014and that small businesses can look to and say, \u201CWe don\u2019t like every decision that they make, but they are making decisions in the interests of New Zealanders.\u201D But, no, we\u2019ve got this outside-in perspective where New Zealanders will be left wondering whether there is more and more politicisation of the regulator going on and more and more decisions which see the grocery commissioner being walked right back; and the telecommunications commissioner, who was introduced into a market that was not working for Kiwis and has made significant contributions while their position has existed, walked right back. Now, what are we left with? A body that is being appointed by Ministers directly making decisions that New Zealanders will struggle to have faith in. I will get to that more\u2014about why that really matters for our economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAt this point, Labour cannot support this. We will go to select committee, and we will listen to these matters, and, hopefully, we can make change that means that more New Zealanders are able to have faith in their regulator, because we need it. We need an economy where everybody feels like they are getting a fair go and where people don\u2019t think that lobbyists have a back door into Government and the regulator to get exactly what they want to the detriment of small businesses and mums and dads who are out there competing on price and quality, because larger corporates can command high prices over time by keeping others out. That is not the economy that we need. It is an economy where there is a significant drag not only on productivity but also on the consumers who Labour is on the side of. This is not a reform that is on the side of consumers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis is a missed opportunity for the consumers who need us most when we are facing prices continually rising at the pump, when fuel is a huge source of anxiety for every person in our country right now, and when there are no pricing mechanisms being introduced by this Government. We\u2019ve asked the commission nicely to look at any price gouging while, in fact, taking away their funding and taking away the specific tool that makes the commissioners the powerful operators they are in the economy. Whether you like it or not and whether you think the telecommunications commissioner or the grocery commissioner roles are working as they should at the moment, shouldn\u2019t we all be able to agree that these are industries that are not working and where the regulator needs special enforcement powers and a way of taking a good look under the hood about whether New Zealanders are getting a good deal? I think so, but this bill does the opposite of that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELet me tell you about what Labour will be looking for when we work through this bill at select committee: we\u2019ll be looking at whether the removal of the dedicated sector commissioners is in line with any evidence that those roles have not been working as intended in the markets where persistent consumer harm has already been identified. You might remember that the introduction of the telecommunication commissioner came on the back of real persistent consumer harm in the telecommunications industry, and the break-up of that industry did occur. A third market entrant has made huge gains for consumers, and, now, telecommunications prices, particularly the prices of phone contracts for New Zealanders, are within reach, and there is sharp competition in that market. Is that because we have a tooled-up regulator? Is that because the rules were fair? Is that because there was more competition? Yes. Over time that has been the case, and more and more we see corporate margins being taken on other products within that. But the things that are regulated by the telcos commissioner are sharply priced, and that\u2019s something to be proud of. Why would we walk that back? Why would we not continue a regime that is working? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe groceries commissioner was also created in a market that was not working well. Are we now hearing from the Government, after tough, tough talk about the supermarkets, that they don\u2019t want to see the grocery commissioner actually making a difference? This is a big back-down from the Government, and we want them to explain why. This will lead to higher prices in grocery, in telco, and in the markets which will not be properly regulated. This is a bad step in the wrong direction.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022 data-id=\u002230aa699a8032335e64bf00c4deb393d1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002230aa699a8032335e64bf00c4deb393d1\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green\u2014Rongotai) (17:02)\u003C/span\u003E: T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. New Zealand is a very small market. It\u2019s a small country far away from other parts of the world, and what we see over and over again is that we have a tendency to form oligopolies. It\u2019s either oligopolies or monopolies, and that means that New Zealanders are paying higher prices for things, and it\u2019s part of our productivity problem. We can see it with fuel. We can see it with supermarkets\u2014a duopoly. We can see it with banks\u2014only four banks; four big banks, mainly, sucking profits out of the country and into Australia. We see it in construction supplies and vertically integrated construction companies having a monopoly on importing certain things, and then people pay more for it. It\u2019s actually quite ironic, because while the parties on the right claim to be for competition, the truth is that we see over and over again that they generally implement policy that is in the interest of the status quo, the big players, not the small businesses, and that is a big part of our productivity problem in New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EBut I think one of the things we have to realise is that naturally because we\u2019re a small country and because we\u2019re so far from things, and because we\u2019ve had all these ridiculous neo-liberal reforms in the 1980s and 1990s that enriched a very small percentage of people and made child poverty worse, that has dragged our productivity for quite a long time. In that circumstance, if we\u2019re going to not be able to get true competition, we would be better off to have either a regulated sector or have the Government as a big player, and that\u2019s one of the reasons why the Green Party has proposed a green Ministry of Works again\u2014because we\u2019ve seen with infrastructure that the costs have massively increased.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225459b3c0726d42c1b6d3cc94ec303baa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222cf62a8ce860cca4b501259022d925f1\u0022\u003EHon James Meager\u003C/span\u003E: Now, that sounds efficient!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224f4d11fd849e516a9ee6d018211e0b4b\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, look at what\u2019s happened with infrastructure costs over the last two decades, starting under Steven Joyce when Steven Joyce was transport Minister. We\u2019ve seen massive inflation in\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000487\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225459b3c0726d42c1b6d3cc94ec303baa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cb0583a0ae79b44fa11e98542b929914\u0022\u003EHon James Meager\u003C/span\u003E: He released the letter.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002223b2790d18db24bf5deb8b5933df78b6\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah. It\u2019s been out for years. What are you talking about? It\u2019s like, update your negs, man. God, you\u2019re so out of date.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESo we\u2019ve seen infrastructure costs increase significantly. This is partly because we can\u2019t increase capacity and just have different consulting and contracting firms supposedly competing with each other. They\u2019re actually just bidding each other up and poaching staff off each other. Actually, New Zealand could have better-value infrastructure if we had a more coordinated approach and we didn\u2019t chase this dream of having massive competition when we are 5 million people far away from everywhere else. I mean, that\u2019s just, like, basic economics. Oligopolies are not good for productivity and they\u2019re not good for consumers. And our Commerce Commission, I will admit, has not really had the tools that it needs to address this. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI have a friend who worked for the equivalent of the Commerce Commission in Scotland, in the UK, and the powers they had there were far greater to actually investigate than what we have here in New Zealand. It\u2019s this light-handed regulation\u2014we never resource proper enforcement\u2014and who does that benefit? It benefits the big players who are milking it and who are making tonnes of money at the expense of ordinary New Zealanders. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELook, I think the jury\u2019s absolutely out. The Green Party had long, long recommended something like what we have\u2014this commissioner on supermarket competition. I think 20 years ago, Sue Kedgley was announcing the Green Party policy of an ombudsman on supermarkets, and we saw some version of that finally get implemented. I think it is unfortunate that we\u2019re losing our named grocery commissioner and telecommunications commissioner. I have a deep distrust of this Government for understandable reasons, and while the Green Party, based on the review, will be listening carefully to the submissions and determining what our position is following the select committee, needless to say, we need more enforcement of the laws that we do have, more and better enforcement, and we actually need a bigger role. There\u2019s a bigger role for the public sector to play in ensuring that New Zealanders, Kiwis, have the basics and that those are affordable and sustainable in the long term and for public good, not for private profit.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022 data-id=\u0022719449e0dea03bceec11c32171dcc9e1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022719449e0dea03bceec11c32171dcc9e1\u0022\u003ESIMON COURT (ACT) (17:07)\u003C/span\u003E: This bill is about fixing what matters, and that is the cost of living. Too many markets in New Zealand aren\u2019t working properly. When competition is weak, prices rise, choice shrinks, and Kiwi families pay the price. These changes strengthen the Commerce Commission\u2019s ability to promote competition and hold dominant players to account. That matters because competition drives lower prices, better choice, and, of course, innovation and the type of services that are available to Kiwis. This bill improves enforcement tools, provides clearer rules, and creates more certainty for business. It means those who compete fairly can succeed and those who try to block competition can\u2019t get away with it. ACT has been clear that if we want to lower the cost of living, we must promote more competition. We\u2019ve seen it in groceries, in building materials, and in banking\u2014where barriers are high, prices stay high. That\u2019s why stronger enforcement is part of the answer, but so is removing the red tape and the regulation that stopped new players entering markets. This bill moves us in the right direction. It backs free markets, clear rules, and personal responsibility because when markets work properly, Kiwis get a fair deal. That\u2019s what ACT is all about. This is fixing what matters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222c117f6511bc4b8fb6fdcf9c6133fb99\u0022 data-id=\u0022e006d206ea5eb416a67c7bb52d64ef80\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222c117f6511bc4b8fb6fdcf9c6133fb99\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e006d206ea5eb416a67c7bb52d64ef80\u0022\u003EDr DAVID WILSON (NZ First) (17:08)\u003C/span\u003E: I rise to speak on the Commerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill. I\u2019ll start off by saying that the Commerce Commission do a very good job. Structural change in the Commerce Commission\u2019s governance and operational mandate primarily seeks to transition the organisation from a model where commissioners handle both day-to-day governance and regulatory decision-making and from siloed divisions to a more robust board-led governance structure. This we fully understand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EGood governance is really very important in this context, and that kind of separation from governance, strategic policy-making, and operations, and so on is absolutely vital in this context also. We also appreciate the transitional arrangements that the Minister has talked about. However, I also hear the concerns of the member Arena Williams around the potency of such an organisation and what we need it to do in the public interest in New Zealand, but governance is none the less extremely important in that respect.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAlong those lines, though, what we\u2019ve heard is that there are challenges confronting New Zealand at the moment in artificial intelligence, blockchain, organised crime, sophisticated fraud, monopolies, duopolies, and oligopolies that are currently confronting us. The member from the ACT Party was talking about how markets will take care of this; sometimes markets are not enough. Sometimes there is market failure, which is why we absolutely need a strong Commerce Commission and we absolutely need good governance in that respect as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe expect the private sector to be held in high standards in their governance standards, and so we can expect the same in the public sector. I commend this bill to the House, and on some of those notes, I look forward to the select committee process where we can address some of these challenging things for New Zealand as a whole. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022587d574de1174371be09e431d9060e87\u0022 data-id=\u002202956058f7d704d798a8c387e879340a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587d574de1174371be09e431d9060e87\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002202956058f7d704d798a8c387e879340a\u0022\u003ECAMERON BREWER (National\u2014Upper Harbour) (17:11)\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s great to talk on this Commerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill, and as our Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Hon Scott Simpson, has said, this has directly come out of an independent review led by Dame Paula Rebstock. The Finance and Expenditure Committee is looking forward to handling this bill and is grateful that it\u2019s been directed towards us. We have a good relationship with the Commerce Commission, led by its chair, Dr John Small, and it\u2019s very good that he is going to be a big part of this transition, as the Minister said. We will give this full consideration, and we are grateful that this Government is following up from the review that was led by Dame Paula. We look forward to hearing more from submitters and coming back to the House at the next stage. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022 data-id=\u0022d3f4c004431727da4765b1771cf5e3b3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d3f4c004431727da4765b1771cf5e3b3\u0022\u003EREUBEN DAVIDSON (Labour\u2014Christchurch East) (17:12)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I\u2019m standing to take a call on the Commerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill. This is a bill that we oppose on this side of the House. I\u2019ll start by echoing the words of one of my colleagues Arena Williams, who spoke at the beginning and said, \u201CAn affordable New Zealand needs an economy that delivers for everyone.\u201D I\u2019m repeating her words because they\u2019re very important, and I think they\u2019re lost on the other side of the House, because the other side of the House believe in progressing an agenda that continues to leave people behind\u2014but not as an unintended consequence of the agenda they\u2019re pushing; it is, in fact, on purpose. That is the very worst kind of politics.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, on the topic of leaving people behind, I can\u2019t let this opportunity pass without giving a shout-out to Pam from Aranui, who\u2019s run a campaign to bring the bus back to Aranui. She\u2019s taken her plea to the regional council this week, and the regional council have committed to bringing a bus back to Aranui. Now, that\u2019s fantastic for Aranui, but it flies in the face of what this Government have done by walking away from committing to vital public transport that New Zealanders need, especially during a fuel crisis. [\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E] But this Government want me to get back to the bill\u2014or those members left here on a Thursday afternoon do. That\u2019s what I\u2019ll get back to, but these are the same members who campaigned around the country saying that they were going to fix the cost of living but have gone on to make it a whole lot worse. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, they\u2019ve also talked big about supermarket competition, but this bill\u2014this very bill\u2014removes one of the key institutional reforms that was designed to keep pressure and was successfully keeping pressure on the sector. The grocery commissioner was created because the supermarket duopoly was failing consumers, suppliers, and competitors. Even this Government\u2019s own material acknowledges that named commissioners provide visibility and prioritisation in sectors with significant consumer harm. But, instead, this Government is stripping out the parts of the system that are working already and doing nothing\u2014absolutely nothing\u2014to improve the rules in favour of competition. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000501\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, let\u2019s have a look at another market where this is particularly essential: the telecommunications sector in New Zealand\u2014a clear example of where strong regulation has been essential to opening the market and improving prices and service. Instead, this Government wants to remove the telecommunications commissioner, weakening the specialist oversight in another concentrated sector. This is another market where strong and expert regulation is necessary to prevent firms with market power from extracting excessive profits. The new governance model adds layers of board control and process around regulatory committee. This is a slower, less focused, and less visible enforcement of competition rules. Repealing restrictions on delegation also makes it easier for important decisions to move further away from identifiable specialist regulators and move further away from the affordable New Zealand that New Zealanders need from the economy that will deliver for everybody. Instead, this Government continues to push this through, and it continues to wilfully leave people behind.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000502\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThis week, Kiwis are worried about putting fuel in their car and they\u2019re worried about putting lunch in their kids\u2019 lunch boxes and they\u2019re worried about putting groceries in their supermarket trolleys, and the other side of the House are worried about putting Robbie Williams into a stadium. That\u2019s all you\u2019ve got: Robbie Williams into a stadium. Newsflash: even the promoter couldn\u2019t say that Robbie Williams wouldn\u2019t have come here without the millions of dollars paid out by this Government to bring him to New Zealand after seven dates in Australia\u2014desperate, desperate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAt the time they\u2019re doing this, the pain that people are experiencing is the National Party\u2019s fault\u2014the National Government\u2019s fault. Christopher Luxon continues to make it worse. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002203f79be93cbba925945286c4da04391f\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u0027Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: This is just to say that the member\u2019s got quite a few behind him in the pecking order now. He\u2019s probably ready to start not reading his speeches quite so much and setting an example for his colleagues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b27d8609c612411686d517d0f9b09b28\u0022 data-id=\u0022469fcc3b4e70ee04953997f206dcccd0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000505\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d8609c612411686d517d0f9b09b28\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022469fcc3b4e70ee04953997f206dcccd0\u0022\u003EDAVID MacLEOD (National\u2014New Plymouth) (17:17)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I\u2019m very pleased to speak to this Commerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill. Competition in New Zealand drives economic growth and innovation, as well as productivity, but it\u2019s not always been the case, as we\u2019ve experienced here in New Zealand. This bill is going to be forwarded to the Finance and Expenditure Committee. I look forward to seeing whether they come back with an even stronger bill, because it is essential for our economy here in New Zealand. I\u2019m very happy to commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002282ab0ea3cc1948dabe8e5cc6838658d0\u0022 data-id=\u0022f5be693a2f79d4419e14c8735ac45c4b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000506\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002282ab0ea3cc1948dabe8e5cc6838658d0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f5be693a2f79d4419e14c8735ac45c4b\u0022\u003EDAN ROSEWARNE (Labour) (17:17)\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s a pleasure to be back in this House. I must admit it\u2019s taken me two attempts to get here\u2014a bit like School Certificate. I had two cracks at that as well. But, fortunately\u2014fortunately\u2014I\u2019m getting the opportunity to sit the exam again, and hopefully with a better result this time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000507\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003ESome people, especially on the other side of the House, get through life with straight As; some of us take more of the scenic route\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000508\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc5df856d19845fdaba4418087cd3bba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a4d99a9f18e079c4c3a48baa349844ac\u0022\u003EHon Jan Tinetti\u003C/span\u003E: Hang on. You know, some of us got straight As, thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000509\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224ee4471ecdcf4eeda5bd6179167372f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219e300faa861865cab41122c35c82769\u0022\u003EDAN ROSEWARNE\u003C/span\u003E: Absolutely, but in my case, it means crawling through a bit more barbed wire than most, but it teaches resilience and it teaches endurance, and that is important when we embark on a career in this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBut anyway, let\u2019s get back to this bill, because if this was an exam, the Government would be failing miserably. New Zealanders are doing it tough right now at the supermarket, at the petrol pump, and when bills come in at the end of the month. The cost of living is biting hard, and families are making difficult choices about what they can afford and what they can go without and how much they must stretch their pay just a little bit further each week. Instead of stepping up to ease that pressure, the Government is actually making it worse. This bill is a perfect example of that failure because, at its heart, it\u2019s not just a technical reform of the Commerce Commission; it\u2019s a political choice. It\u2019s a deliberate choice to weaken every watchdog that helps keep prices down for Kiwi families, and that matters because we already know that the system isn\u2019t working as it should.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000511\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe know that a handful of supermarket giants dominate around 80 percent of the grocery market. We know that this level of concentration limits competition and keeps prices higher than they need to be, and we know that suppliers are often afraid to speak up for fear of being squeezed out. We know that when competition is weak, prices go up, and families pay the price. That\u2019s exactly why Labour acted, and that is why we created the Grocery Commission\u2014to shine a light on that anti-competitive behaviour, to give suppliers a voice, and to hold those big players to account, and, ultimately, to drive down prices for everyday New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000512\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ESunlight matters, accountability matters, and strong regulation matters when markets fail. What does this Government do? They scrap that role, they remove that focus, and they water down enforcement. They expect New Zealanders to believe that, somehow, magically, prices will fall as a result. That\u2019s not credible. In fact, it defies both logic and experience. Weakening oversight in a concentrated market does not lead to better outcomes; it leads to higher prices, less transparency, and more power in the hands of the few.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000513\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s happening at the worst possible time, because, right now, the global situation is getting harder, not easier. The war in Iran is already driving up oil prices, disrupting supply chains, and pushing inflationary pressures across the world. Energy prices are rising, and we all know what that means here at home. It flows directly into transport costs, the costs of getting goods on to shelves, and, ultimately, into the weekly shop. We\u2019re already seeing fuel prices spike internationally, putting pressure on households and businesses alike, and when prices face high import costs, those costs don\u2019t just disappear; they are passed on to the consumer. It doesn\u2019t stop at the pump. That same conflict, right now, is pushing up the cost of fertiliser, freight, and food production. It is making it more expensive to grow food, to move food, and to sell food. That means higher grocery bills are coming next, whether this Government acknowledges that or not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s be very clear about this: New Zealanders are being hit hard by global pressures\u2014pressures that they cannot control. They cannot control war overseas. They cannot control global oil prices. They cannot control supply chain disruption. But what they should be able to rely on is a Government that is actually firmly on their side, a Government that strengthens competition and doesn\u2019t weaken it, and a Government that actually cracks down on excessive profits, not turns a blind eye. It\u2019s a pleasure to take my first call on this bill because it\u2019s absolutely important that Kiwis get a fair go.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022 data-id=\u00222c8bb2c45f37178bd7bdae5a949b65e7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000515\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222c8bb2c45f37178bd7bdae5a949b65e7\u0022\u003ERIMA NAKHLE (National\u2014Takanini) (17:23)\u003C/span\u003E: As most of us in this House know, one of the main aims of the Commerce Commission is to promote competition and protect consumers. One of the aims of this bill is to make the Commerce Commission more efficient and more effective so that eventually it can reach that role. The other side of the House had six years to do something about competition so that they could bring grocery prices down. It didn\u2019t happen in six years. At least on this side of the House, we\u2019re moving. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000516\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Commerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill be now read a first time\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000517\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003EAyes 82\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 49; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 14; ACT New Zealand 11; New Zealand First 8.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000519\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003ENoes 39\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000520\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 4; Ferris.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000521\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000522\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBill read a first time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000523\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022af67ac41daa0df5cdcf0b76992f9b0dc\u0022\u003EReferral to Select Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022 data-id=\u0022d3eaa3df9137c7e00cbd74c3bdb72169\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000524\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c4943fd1cf914de0befcb7a16280f910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d3eaa3df9137c7e00cbd74c3bdb72169\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u0027Connor) (17:24)\u003C/span\u003E: The question is, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Commerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill be considered by the Finance and Expenditure Committee\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000525\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBill referred to the Finance and Expenditure Committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000527\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00223b2d2746bebb1ffd09c6e32ae1a46715\u0022\u003EInstruction to Select Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022 data-id=\u0022b8ce4e3edbd97ca5f8d3fa2223f2536c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000528\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f537d6f7e9d0407792892b239af9ec7f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b8ce4e3edbd97ca5f8d3fa2223f2536c\u0022\u003EHon SCOTT SIMPSON (Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs) (17:24)\u003C/span\u003E: I move, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the Commerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill be reported to the House by 27 July 2026\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000529\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EThat the motion be agreed to\u003C/span\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000530\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=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000531\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=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000532\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=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000533\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 14; Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 4; Ferris.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000534\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000535\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228b4cbf0734118fb99113411c48f9479b\u0022\u003EPublic Finance Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000536\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00222f843cdab0d7894e9896c0b2e81216d4\u0022\u003EThird Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000537\u0022\u003EDebate resumed from 12 March.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022 data-id=\u00225b8c597adf02aba052b44e8933350d71\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000538\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225b8c597adf02aba052b44e8933350d71\u0022\u003ESIMON COURT (ACT) (17:26)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is a simple bill that treats taxpayers\u2019 money with respect, because for every dollar that Government spends, that\u2019s a dollar that a family doesn\u2019t get to keep. ACT believes this bill is fixing what matters, it\u2019s cutting waste, and respecting the taxpayer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000539\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003ERight now, too much of public finance just runs on autopilot. There\u2019s not enough accountability for each dollar spent. Kiwis are feeling it in the cost of living, and they expect better discipline and greater transparency from their Government. In line with what this coalition Government was voted in to do, there\u2019s going to be a far sharper focus on value for money and it\u2019s going to be clear who\u2019s responsible for spending that money when this Public Finance Amendment Bill passes. I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222c117f6511bc4b8fb6fdcf9c6133fb99\u0022 data-id=\u002277452c5d94160a084499c4ee774a8adc\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222c117f6511bc4b8fb6fdcf9c6133fb99\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002277452c5d94160a084499c4ee774a8adc\u0022\u003EDr DAVID WILSON (NZ First) (17:27)\u003C/span\u003E: I rise to speak on behalf of New Zealand First on the Public Finance Amendment Bill. I noticed through the earlier parts of this reading that some people were saying\u2014or at least one member in particular said\u2014that GDP and GDP per capita were deeply contested measures.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000541\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226710095aa1204b3793448571c208ccd4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219e7fcc738fd02c8ee23640b7abaef7d\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s true.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000542\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222c117f6511bc4b8fb6fdcf9c6133fb99\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002278d04c13508f488c4510f838b9a5526f\u0022\u003EDr DAVID WILSON\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s not true. They\u2019re consistent and able to be measured universally across OECD countries, and yet we wanted to have the wellbeing measures there put in place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000543\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe wellbeing measures\u2014can I say?\u2014the only way that they\u2019re vaguely consistent is in New Zealand. The comparators with other countries are missing and they\u2019re using proxies, which makes the whole thing internally inconsistent. I think we need to take that distraction away from Treasury and allow them to do their job, so that we can have a public finance Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update, Budget Economic and Fiscal Update, and all the rest of them, coming through where they\u2019ve basically focused on what matters to New Zealanders, and that is running the country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI would remind those people that think that GDP is not consistent that, actually, the public sector has a multiplicity of agencies who are quite adept and will be able to address those wellbeing measures particularly with the Public Service Amendment Bill, which is looking towards outcome performance and will perform this function amicably well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000545\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EFor too long, the previous Government cluttered our public finance reports as wellbeing measures that often served more as an ideological exercise in a practical, economic tool. This bill fixes that by repealing those requirements and returning our focus to the core fiscal variables. We commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022 data-id=\u0022093122c782d30ba4dd6330de1203ae9e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000546\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022093122c782d30ba4dd6330de1203ae9e\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH (Green) (17:29)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. There are some inconsequential bits of this bill that we are more than happy to support, but, on the whole, I think what this Government fails to genuinely do is take into account the genuine and actually quite big risks that exist, for example, to our liability for not taking action on climate change, and the money that we would have to pay offshore in relationship to that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000547\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220838e5f9bac748d2a59aea595e5226a0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002257a3bd69f40da6b54796e949a71333f3\u0022\u003ESimon Court\u003C/span\u003E: No one\u2019s paying the money.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000548\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298c1995a3396432382c4b04f94f6462f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a72190ff6965e0100c8de3195f8a7f71\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, that is a choice that maybe the Government would choose to make, but we would be none the less liable for it. I think this is part of the challenge that we have: that the Government can either choose to be responsible and represent that liability accurately, whether they choose to pay it later down the track or not or, simply, ignore it. We do think that when it comes to the way that we represent risk, we should be accurate in putting forward those risks and having them reflected. Then the Government can choose to be upfront with the public as to whether they intend to pay them or not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000549\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI think one of the challenges that we have, and the previous speaker talked about it, is the GDP per capita measurements that we have. They are a blunt instrument for measuring the state and the wellbeing of a society and an economy. We can have GDP go up, and sometimes even GDP per capita goes up, at the same time as the country is experiencing growing household debt, increased material hardship for children, and longer delays for people to access things like basic healthcare. I will be the first one to admit that some of these wellbeing objectives could have been implemented and reflected better in Government policies, but I do think, at the end of the day, that there was an attempt in recognising that the state of our economy and our society cannot simply be measured by these blunt instruments that do not reflect, for example, the state of inequality and how our most marginalised and structurally left behind communities may be feeling.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000550\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAgain, we do think that the inconsequential changes around the rules for departmental and multicategory appropriations for Estimates documents\u2014the requirement for a tax expenditure statement and clearing up the rules in relationship to multicategory appropriations and strategic intention requirements\u2014are all well and fine. But at the core, this is about returning us to more blunt instruments to measure the state of our economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000551\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EUltimately, the economy is all of us: it\u2019s the state of our poorest, it\u2019s the state of our rivers, it\u2019s the state of our children growing up, and the state of those children within the first 2,000 days of their lives. These need to be better represented in our Government objectives, the way that we put them in the Budget Policy Statements, and how we guide decisions made by Ministers as a result of this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000552\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EFor example, I see Budget Policy Statements from this Government that talk about reducing unemployment but then mostly focus on business confidence, for example, and the Finance and Expenditure Committee report, which has, in my view, very little to do with actual job creation. We don\u2019t have a set of measurements that allows us to genuinely reflect how well people in our community, particularly those that have the least, are genuinely doing. Instruments like GDP, including GDP per capita, don\u2019t necessarily tell us a full picture of our country. This is why we\u2019re not voting for the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000553\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI think what the Government could have instead done is refined and committed to a broader set of measurement tools, beyond the wellbeing objectives, but, none the less, ones that actually tell us a more fulsome picture that can be accurately represented in the Budget Policy Statement. Again, I do not have faith that even extending the sort of risks that get covered will lead to a Government that takes issues like climate change seriously, that takes issues like poverty seriously. I do not see that reflected, for example, in even the current Budget Policy Statement, and I don\u2019t think this bill will do much to change the direction that we\u2019re seeing from this Government, where more people are being left behind.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000554\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe Green Party is not supportive of this bill. We acknowledge the more inconsequential changes that are happening as part of this bill, which we can commend and put aside, but, on the whole, I think this bill, and the principles of this bill, do take us backwards and ignore some of the biggest liabilities we\u2019re facing\u2014that this Government claims they\u2019re refusing to pay anyway.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022587d574de1174371be09e431d9060e87\u0022 data-id=\u0022051fc0a019b2966f3167aa46791daf8a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000555\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587d574de1174371be09e431d9060e87\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022051fc0a019b2966f3167aa46791daf8a\u0022\u003ECAMERON BREWER (National\u2014Upper Harbour) (17:34)\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s great to stand up for the third reading of the Public Finance Amendment Bill. We are legislating to make it harder to hide unfunded fiscal cliffs, and we remember them well. The incoming Minister of Finance, the Hon Nicola Willis, had a long list, and we remember having to find money for Pharmac, and we remember having to find money for the school lunch programme. We\u2019re also repealing the wellbeing statements, the necessity for Budget Policy Statements, and the Treasury to deliver on wellbeing reports and wellbeing statements. We remember those Wellbeing Budgets and their huge operating allowances. I commend the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022 data-id=\u0022b2da92834a5ffcf2a905ea87971e1454\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000556\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b2da92834a5ffcf2a905ea87971e1454\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Labour\u2014Wigram) (17:35)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am pleased to take a call on this and reiterate that Labour opposes this bill. We oppose this bill for several reasons, which I\u2019ll go through. There were some changes, and we think there could have been more changes, that were made at select committee and at the committee of the whole House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000557\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOne of the fundamental things that has come up in this debate is the removal of the wellbeing objectives. This is a Government that came in with the intent to remove them because they were something that Labour had put in place\u2014or so they told us. But what this belied was that, actually, the wellbeing approach to budgeting, for us looking at something broader than just the simple traditional economic measures, was work that had begun when Bill English was the Minister of Finance. This is the work that Treasury had begun as far back as 2011, because around the world, economists understand that if we\u2019re going to understand how Governments need to prioritise spending, then we need to understand it in a broader context. This is the work of the Living Standards Framework that economists at Treasury started under Bill English in 2011.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000558\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBut this is not the National Party of Bill English. This is not the party that is making considered decisions in the best interests of New Zealanders; this is a National Party that came in and was just intent on rolling back anything because Labour had done it, and that is a big part of what is being done in this bill that we are debating today: to remove that wellbeing framework.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000559\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAround the world, the wellbeing framework that New Zealand had put in place\u2014and bear in mind this is work that had been going on for a substantial period of time within Treasury\u2014was not just something that Labour dreamt up and put in place; this was continuing and accelerating work that was going on around the world and held up to be a gold standard.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000560\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBudgets are where Governments make decisions about their priorities. It is important that Governments spell out what their priorities are to New Zealanders. Having wellbeing objectives makes it plain and clear, and needing to report against those objectives makes it plain and clear to New Zealanders what a Government prioritises, what it thinks is important, and what it doesn\u2019t think is important. So when I read through Budget Policy Statements and I don\u2019t see the words \u201Cclimate change\u201D come up once in a Budget Policy Statement from Nicola Willis, I know that\u2019s not a priority. But let\u2019s have a framework we can compare across Governments. Let\u2019s have a way of actually having that transparency and measuring that across Governments.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000561\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EI think one of the things that we were looking at\u2014if we look at the Labour Government\u2019s last Budget Policy Statement and the things that we were looking to say we were prioritising\u2014was transitioning New Zealand to a low-emissions economy and making sure people\u2019s jobs were protected as we went through that. Physical and mental wellbeing, the future of work, equipping New Zealanders for the future, M\u0101ori and Pacific peoples, and child wellbeing\u2014they were a priority. These are the kinds of things that Governments do need to lay bare. Look, voters can make decisions about the kind of Government they want and the kind of wellness objectives they will have. We live in a democracy, but Governments should at least be upfront enough to put those down on paper and say, \u201CThese are our priorities for how we are spending our money.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000562\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBut it didn\u2019t just scrap the wellbeing objectives and take those out of the way in which we report; it did some other things too, and a couple that we agree with and that we think are useful. One of the things that it does do is it increases the publication window for the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update\u2014the PREFU\u2014and increases the time that commentators and the public have with the information that is in the PREFU. Now, the PREFU is an important part of an election campaign; it is an opening of the books, where it is laid bare how much money there is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000563\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s incredibly important for Oppositions who don\u2019t have access, under normal circumstances, beyond the half-yearly fiscal update. It\u2019s going into an election saying, \u201CThis is how much money there is. Parties need to campaign and make their promises based on this fact.\u201D We think opening up that window and getting that information out there for a longer time is good for our democracy and we can support that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000564\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOne of the things that it did that I thought was interesting comes under the banner of \u201Csupporting fiscal transparency\u201D. On the face of it, it sounds like a really good measure. I like a bit of transparency\u2014I\u2019d like to see more of it from this Government, in fact. But what these, essentially, were were changes needed to help Nicola Willis read a Budget. Nicola Willis came in and claimed that her Government was set up with all these fiscal cliffs\u2014these fiscal cliffs that had been hidden from them\u2014that they had no way of knowing about them. They were so hidden and so covert that the Labour Government had put out press releases about them, saying it was time-limited funding.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000565\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWhen it came to housing, where she claimed that it was unfair that her Government might have to make some commitments about funding social housing in this country and that she didn\u2019t know it had been, she could have picked up a press release and read that was exactly the case. There was time-limited funding, because elections are times for Governments and parties to nail their colours to the mast and say what they are going to do. This Government made a decision not to fund public housing. We haven\u2019t seen serious amounts of new funding going into public housing since they\u2019ve been in power. The houses they claim to have built were all funded in Budgets put under a wellbeing framework from a Labour Government. So let\u2019s actually know what that fiscal transparency is. If it helps people who can\u2019t read a Budget, then fine. It\u2019s not something we\u2019re necessarily opposed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000566\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EOne of the other changes that is in here are the changes to the ways in which we can express the surplus. These are the provisions in here and changes to the way we can report on the Government\u2019s books. The changes in the Public Finance Act are what allow the invention of the operating balance before gains and losses, excluding ACC revenue and expenses (OBEGALx), which is a new measure of the health of the Government books, brought in in 2024 by this Government. Operating balance before gains and losses (OBEGAL) is a way in which the state of the New Zealand economy has been measured across Governments for decades. It is a measure that you can look and you can see the OBEGAL figure over a number of years, and you can compare them as apples with apples with apples. It was an accounting standard, if you like, that meant there was consistency.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000567\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWhat happened in these changes and in 2024 is that Nicola Willis invented a new way to express this: Begala. Essentially, it\u2019s a new measure that is creative accounting to make the surplus look closer, because, essentially, what Nicola Willis didn\u2019t do was fix the books; she simply went and crossed out ACC.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000568\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d8c680abece2ce6d933cbcf78f016b42\u0022\u003EHon Dr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, is that the \u201Cx\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000569\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002254aa7c61326f4a0395e6e4031c554ba3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bcd7b2138c318d293649ec86d8410cc9\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: Yep, that\u2019s the \u201Cx\u201D. It\u2019s crossing out ACC. So while every other Government for decades before had carried the ACC liability in terms of the way that they calculated the health of the Government books, Nicola Willis decided, \u201CI know. I\u2019ve got a cunning plan. I\u2019ll make surplus look closer. I\u2019ll just put a big \u2018x\u2019 through the ACC transactions and discount that from the way that we report on the economy.\u201D That does not do us well as a nation. We need to be able to have those transparent and clear measures to be able to compare the economy over a period of time to look at the health of it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWhile she\u2019s saying she needs help reading a Budget by putting fiscal transparency measures into this because she can\u2019t pick up a press release and see what time-limited funding looks like, what she has done is created a new way of expressing the health of the Government books that makes it look like surplus is closer than it would have been for any other Government before this Government. I think that\u2019s something that it\u2019s incredibly important to remember.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000571\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELabour cannot support this. This is a bill that takes New Zealand backwards. It doesn\u2019t measure whether or not our economy is working for our people.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ab32b09663ea48b199aa59e4d88f77e4\u0022 data-id=\u00228368b27cc7bf9ac6f7607c1689b10521\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000572\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ab32b09663ea48b199aa59e4d88f77e4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228368b27cc7bf9ac6f7607c1689b10521\u0022\u003ETIM COSTLEY (National\u2014\u014Ctaki) (17:44)\u003C/span\u003E: Virtue signalling over wellbeing doesn\u2019t help pay the bills. I have visited the schools that were told they were going to get new classrooms, except there was never any money put aside for it. The Freudian slip from Megan Woods, when she said, \u201COh, but we put out lots of press releases.\u201D, that\u2019s the problem. Putting out a press release saying something\u2019s happening, but not allocating money, doesn\u2019t deliver anything. It\u2019s all talk, it\u2019s a fiscal cliff, and that\u2019s what we\u2019ve got to fix. I commend it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000573\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226069b2ca69776a07b9f4d1c38ae8b47d\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Reuben Davidson\u2014it\u2019s a split call, by the way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022 data-id=\u0022d077bfaa45b773cc8feb05f6dc7f685c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000574\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d077bfaa45b773cc8feb05f6dc7f685c\u0022\u003EREUBEN DAVIDSON (Labour\u2014Christchurch East) (17:45)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is a split call. That, by my calculations, means that I have five minutes to speak on this. Unlike the previous member, who wasn\u2019t able to fill his 10, I\u2019m more than happy to go through and make full use of the five minutes that I have to speak in opposition to the Public Finance Amendment Bill. And not just simple opposition, but strong opposition\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000575\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ab32b09663ea48b199aa59e4d88f77e4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002212525a84ea5a9246df13bcc4362ead74\u0022\u003ETim Costley\u003C/span\u003E: At least look up once!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000576\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b2dbf96cb435598ac380984ed1ea0608\u0022\u003EREUBEN DAVIDSON\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014because what this could be called, Mr Costley\u2014I\u2019ll look you in the eye and say this. What this could be called is the \u201CWe Don\u2019t Care Bill\u201D, because that\u2019s what it is. This is the bill that says, \u201CWe simply do not care.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000577\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003ENow, other members have spoken to this bill and they\u2019ve talked about what this bill does. What this bill does is it makes some of the measures\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E] Madam Speaker, I realise I\u2019m speaking to you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000578\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002265187c4ae17d6169ddc2179d610379c7\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I can\u2019t hear a word any of these people are saying, because they\u2019re all talking at once, but I can hear you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000579\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e641dc4bf8aa41b0bd8a29676c8ba9a6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002234bfaac3cfd5aa3338bb69ef92977c65\u0022\u003EREUBEN DAVIDSON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, you are in a far more enviable position than I, Madam Speaker, because whether it\u2019s in barracking or in speeches they deliver in this House, not much of it is worth listening to, I can assure you of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000580\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWhat this bill does is it puts in place some greater transparency, so that the current Minister of Finance can read the Budget more easily\u2014something she claims not to have been able to do prior to the election. As other members have pointed out there were a large number of media releases and there was a large number of Budgets available to be read. It\u2019s all in the skill applied to the reading of the Budget that enables the reader to get a good understanding of exactly what that Budget is committing to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000581\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, there was a member who shouted out before: \u201CShow us the press release.\u201D He\u2019s still in the House. I\u2019m very happy to, at some stage, show that member exactly how you can access press releases, going back in time, that made very clear what was funded and those funding commitments. The reality is that members on the other side of the House know what was committed to, because they celebrate the cutting of ribbons at the social housing, at the public housing, at the hospital wards, at all of the schools and the classrooms, all of the commitments that were made and funded under the last Labour Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000582\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBut the important thing to focus on here is not what this bill does, but what it removes\u2014that is the five wellbeings. Let\u2019s just go through those. I\u2019m going to read the headings for the wellbeing, and then I\u2019m going to make some comments about them, because this week, of all weeks, the just transition and supporting New Zealanders to transition to a climate resilient, sustainable, and low-emissions economy seems more relevant than ever, in a time where we\u2019re seeing fuel prices really spiral out of control and out of the cost and affordability for a lot of New Zealanders. That is not something that this Government wants to see considered in the Budget.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000583\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe physical and mental wellbeing\u2014supporting improved health outcomes for all New Zealanders, with a specific focus on the mental wellbeing of our young people; yet they don\u2019t want to see this factored into Budget decisions anymore. You don\u2019t have to go very far to see stories in your own electorates or across Aotearoa of the challenges and difficulties we\u2019re seeing in the mental health space, but you don\u2019t want to factor that into the Budget. At a time when AI is presenting all manner of opportunities, but also disruption to the workforce, there\u2019s no interest in looking at the future of work anymore. You only have to go back to question time today to see the staggering statistics around unemployment and how negatively it\u2019s impacting our M\u0101ori and Pasifika communities, but let\u2019s not look at that in any of our Budgets going forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000584\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EPerhaps, most staggeringly, child wellbeing. Child wellbeing should no longer be considered when you are putting together your Budgets. That\u2019s the message from this bill. That\u2019s the message from those members on the other side of the House. I believe, as it says in our wellbeing Budgets, that New Zealanders want us to measure our success in line with their values: the importance of fairness, the protection of the environment, and the strength of our community. This bill steps us away from being able to do just that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b27d8609c612411686d517d0f9b09b28\u0022 data-id=\u002219fc981e1d92498632b8d1a7a2675570\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b27d8609c612411686d517d0f9b09b28\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002219fc981e1d92498632b8d1a7a2675570\u0022\u003EDAVID MacLEOD (National\u2014New Plymouth) (17:50)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I\u2019m pleased to stand in this third reading of the Public Finance Amendment Bill. One of the surprises for this Government when we came into the Treasury benches was opening the books and seeing fiscal cliffs from time-limited funding. We had unfunded promises left, right, and centre, and it\u2019s got to be better than that for any Government that comes into the Treasury benches. These amendments here, there are a lot of technical amendments, but there are a lot of improvements in gaining greater transparency, improving the fiscal responsibility, and improving the practical outcomes of the Act itself.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000586\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsContinued\u0022\u003EI see that there have been a couple of amendments made by the Finance and Expenditure Committee. That tells me that the committee has done a great job of returning the bill in a stronger position than it was actually received in. I\u2019m happy to commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022 data-id=\u0022113d3c34c44a1bbd10eee5ebc407e90a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000587\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022113d3c34c44a1bbd10eee5ebc407e90a\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central) (17:51)\u003C/span\u003E: The members on the other side who talk about fiscal cliffs, it really just shows their own ignorance, because anyone who reads the actual Budget\u2014not just some press release on it but that Budget\u2014will see that it tells you year by year how much is allocated. If it doesn\u2019t say out-years, then those further years aren\u2019t funded. The fact that Nicola Willis and her peers can\u2019t open a Budget and say, \u201CThis funding ends in 2023 or 2024 or 2025.\u201D is a reflection not on the budgeting of the Labour Government but on the innumeracy of the National Party.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000588\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWhat\u2019s really concerning about this bill is the fact that it is throwing out the wellbeing objectives. I can see why they want to get rid of them, because the wellbeing of New Zealand has gone backwards. It\u2019s not just GDP that has gone backwards under this Government, but the wellbeing of New Zealanders has as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000589\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe know, for example, that this Government should have a greater focus on jobs\u2014and the Labour Party absolutely will\u2014because when people are in jobs, not only is their income better but their mental health is better, their social connectedness is better, their self-esteem is better. But they are not the kind of things that that Government wants to measure. They want to stop measuring how well we are doing. All they want to measure is cold, hard cash, and they can\u2019t even do a good job at running an economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIf we think about social housing and the fact that that Government defunded\u2014stopped building\u20143,500 social houses, one of the reasons they can pretend or they can turn a blind eye to the misery they\u2019re causing is that they don\u2019t want to measure the misery, because that\u2019s what a wellbeing approach does. We need to measure\u2014in our wellbeing Budget, in our wellbeing report, Treasury needs to measure how many of our people are living in damp, cold homes; how many of our people are homeless. That Government doesn\u2019t want to measure that because it doesn\u2019t want to face up to the fact that under that Government, the wellbeing of New Zealanders is going backwards. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIf we think of where to spend money, if we think of the health system, if we think of how hard it is to go to a GP\u2014and we know that one of the best ways to keep New Zealanders healthy is to go to see a GP, but they don\u2019t care that the cost of going to see a GP is approaching $100 and sometimes exceeding it. That\u2019s why we think three free GP visits is a good idea: because we know how to measure wellbeing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000592\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThat Government wants to get rid of wellbeing measures because they know that escalating primary healthcare costs are undermining not just people\u2019s tertiary health needs but people being able to lead a good life. If you need a little bit of medical assistance to get over the flu or to address some pain issues so that you can go for a walk, so that you can interact with your family, that\u2019s actually what wellbeing is about. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000593\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s talk about another wellbeing measure: social cohesion\u2014social capital. How are we doing as a nation? Well, under that Government, we are the most polarised we have ever been. I was on the forecourt with 50,000 others when that Government was tearing the country apart over the Treaty principles bill. Now, they don\u2019t want to measure social cohesion. They don\u2019t want to know how you are getting on with each other. They don\u2019t want to know how much racism there is in our community, because under Christopher Luxon it\u2019s got worse. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000594\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe fact of the matter is that the Wellbeing Budget was a world-leading idea. It was well established. The OECD absolutely was watching what was going on in New Zealand because they wanted to know, how do you measure things that really count? Let\u2019s not just measure how big the surplus is or how big the GDP is, because one of the questions is where it goes. Is it being spread equitably across the country or is it going to fat cats? Is it going to insurance companies, banks, and grocery stores? Well, under that Government, that\u2019s what\u2019s happening. We want to measure not just GDP; we want to measure how the wealth is distributed in our country and how well everybody is doing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000595\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThe OECD was looking with great interest, saying, \u201CHow do you measure things like social cohesion?\u201D Let\u2019s be clear: it wasn\u2019t a straightforward process. The Treasury was working very hard on exactly how to look at things like how do you compare how you get on in a community, the welcoming nature of your community, with the health needs of children in Northland or clean water in Geraldine. All of those things are trade-offs. If you don\u2019t measure it, if you don\u2019t try and compare those things, you can\u2019t make good Budget choices, and that\u2019s what the Wellbeing Budget was about. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000596\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENow, that Government is left with a cold and brutal measure of how we\u2019re doing. It will look at jobless figures, but it doesn\u2019t ask what the wellbeing effect of joblessness is. It will look at declining house prices, but it won\u2019t ask what the effect of declining house prices is on homeowners. It will look at high GP costs, but it won\u2019t ask the real question: how does that affect the wellbeing of New Zealand? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000597\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EThey just don\u2019t want to report on it. I mean, I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t get rid of the Child Poverty Reduction Act as well while they\u2019re at it, because child poverty has got worse under this Government as well. It got worse and is getting worse, because this is not a Government that cares. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000598\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EWe agree that fiscal responsibility is important. We agree that transparency is important, but that\u2019s the fringes of this bill. The centre of this bill is the gutting of the most innovative economic measures that have been seen not only in New Zealand but around the world. We should be hanging our heads in shame as a country that where we were leading the world in a wellbeing approach, with a living standards framework which was measuring what was good about New Zealand and being a New Zealander and what was bad about what was going on in New Zealand\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000599\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db2ea575110f43e6b325fc2758d0d15b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b09cb5fd46de64f9a361f8128433578\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: The enshittification.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000600\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f741c02bdc379385de8d171506b0a330\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB\u003C/span\u003E: I can\u2019t say that, Ayesha Verrall. Absolutely, we have made New Zealand worse. We\u2019ve made the reporting standards worse. Whilst there are some technical amendments, the fact of the matter is that that Government is not interested in measuring what really matters. It\u2019s interested in measuring GDP. We know, as Robert Kennedy said, GDP goes up when there\u2019s a war. GDP goes up when there\u2019s an earthquake. GDP goes up when there\u2019s a car accident and the car has to be repaired. Those are not good outcomes. We should be measuring essentially how healthy, how happy, and how much we get on with each other, and they should be our budgetary objectives, not simply growing fat cats and watching monopoly profits go.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000601\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EIt is with considerable sadness that I look at this bill and I see that the work of Grant Robertson and the many scholars who assisted in Treasury and who came to the Finance and Expenditure Committee\u2014as Megan Woods said, the Key-English Government actually started this work, because the Key-English Government had some faults, but they were genuinely interested in improving the lives of New Zealanders in their conservative, traditional way. They wanted to measure what could be done and what was good, but this Government wants to see no evil\u2014and it\u2019s certainly evil that it\u2019s doing as it undermines social cohesion, the health of New Zealanders, the equity of New Zealanders, and really what\u2019s going on in New Zealand. They\u2019re turning a blind eye. They don\u2019t want to measure it. They don\u2019t want to report on it. You can sit down\u2014I\u2019ve got a full 12 seconds; I wouldn\u2019t want you to get worn out standing up.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000602\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EHere we are. A sad day for New Zealand as we see this Government trying to force through yet another retrograde step.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000603\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022217c523140e1b10e8922e437ae55552d\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Rima Nakhle.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022 data-id=\u0022e214e6aaa27876ab2e53c5581d22170a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000604\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cf22a832d14a4c99ab5dfd16e24446e5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e214e6aaa27876ab2e53c5581d22170a\u0022\u003ERIMA NAKHLE (National\u2014Takanini) (18:01)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Actions speak louder\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000605\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227b0b5095bc8d433ad8d530492dff03d\u0022\u003EHon Dr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Madam Speaker. Point order. Madan Speaker, it\u2019s 6.01 p.m. and under Standing Orders, the House rises at 6 p.m. unless it\u2019s necessary to extend it under Standing Order 53 for the purpose of not interrupting a member. Now, you\u2019re not interrupting a member by adjourning the House at this point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000606\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022608ffa6ce6e137279250ea6a23fc0660\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I\u2019m not interrupting a member by adjourning, but also, I have some discretion between five to and five past\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000607\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fbaf0f4c93abcd09ec037d6a2970e85f\u0022\u003EHon Dr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: No, well, Madam Speaker, Standing Orders say\u2014[\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsCharacterItalics\u0022\u003EInterruption\u003C/span\u003E] To speak to the point of order, Standing Order 46 is very clear that the House on a Thursday rises at 6 p.m., except when Standing Order 53 applies when you may interrupt the business up to five minutes before to avoid interrupting a speaker. To allow the speeches to continue now would be to not be consistent with Standing Orders. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000608\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cb7dd01700fa6e014d3815e14af7eacb\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, technically Mr Webb, you are correct in that that\u2019s what the Standing Order says. I do have sole discretion, and one of the things that I struggle with is: would we come back and debate, for a very small portion of time, on another given day\u2014the House time\u2014on a very small piece of legislation that\u2019s left? I struggle with that and I\u2019m happy for the member to speak again to that point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000609\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b78723aefdc74b11a47482993ca56a74\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b0b3805911608513d008514eff8027a9\u0022\u003EHon Dr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m not going to defy the Speaker, obviously. If you think you have that discretion, that\u2019s for you. I note, however, though, that there is not only a National Party call but also an additional call to be had because the M\u0101ori Party didn\u2019t take their call, so you\u2019ve now got two additional speakers to be heard.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000610\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a097d03034945dd88631c93071426ef4\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah. On that basis\u2014and given that we\u2019ve just had a point of order, and given that there is another call after the Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori call, I\u2019m going to make the decision to close the House for the weekend.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000611\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ab32b09663ea48b199aa59e4d88f77e4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228fd186476f8ce27f7be25fdd9665d00b\u0022\u003ETim Costley\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s terrible!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000612\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002271e0e7faafe2f832822a5aebcd892d47\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, it\u2019s a relevant point because we do have another full call that we could have. On that basis, the House stands adjourned until 2 p.m., on Tuesday, 31 March.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000613\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EDebate interrupted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000614\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022CharacterBoldCentred\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 6.04 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202603261cd61aab5f192ec940000615\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224cf6752dabf34d0eb8ae92457823e4ba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsTerm\u0022\u003EThis early draft is automatically published - it is not yet complete and reviewed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"