Tuesday, 14 February 2023

Volume 765

Sitting date: 14 February 2023

TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023

The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.

KARAKIA/PRAYERS

SPEAKER: E te Atua kawa rawa, ka tuku whakamoemiti atu mātou, mō ngā manaakitanga kua waihotia mai ki runga i a mātou. Ka waiho i ō mātou pānga whaiaro katoa ki te taha, ka mihi mātou ki te Kīngi, me te inoi atu mō te ārahitanga i roto i ō mātou whakaaroarohanga, kia mōhio ai, kia whakaiti ai tā mātou whakahaere i ngā take o te Whare nei, mō te oranga, te maungārongo, me te aroha o Aotearoa. Āmene.

[To the Lord God, we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests, we acknowledge the King and we pray for guidance in our deliberations, that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom and humility, for the welfare, peace and compassion of New Zealand. Amen.]

By-Election

Hamilton West—Tama Potaka

SPEAKER: I have received from the Electoral Commission a return declaring Tama William Potaka to be elected a member of Parliament. I understand that Tama Potaka is present and wishes to take the oath. Would he please come forward to the chair on my right.

Members Sworn

TAMA POTAKA (National—Hamilton West): Te oati noho pūmau: ko ahau, ko Tama William Potaka, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou.

[I, Tama William Potaka, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.]

Motions

Türkiye and Syria Earthquake—Condolences

Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Deputy Prime Minister): I move, That this House send its deepest condolences to all those who have lost loved ones in the devastating earthquake that struck Türkiye and Syria on 6 February, and offer New Zealand’s continued aid and support to the international efforts to assist the people of Türkiye and Syria as they respond to this humanitarian catastrophe.

Aotearoa New Zealand stands with the people of Türkiye and Syria after the 6 February earthquakes. Our thoughts are with the communities, families, and loved ones affected, including significant numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons. I also acknowledge the Turkish and Syrian communities in New Zealand. Watching these events unfold from afar must be unimaginably difficult. We are thinking of you, aroha nui.

The heartbreaking images we see on television on screens and social media show with alarming clarity the level of devastation that has been caused in Türkiye and Syria. The human cost is staggering. In Türkiye, authorities have declared that more than 31,000 people have lost their lives. In Syria, the picture is less clear, but more than 4,500 deaths have been reported. These incredibly distressing figures will, sadly, continue to climb.

The scale and magnitude of the destruction caused by the earthquakes is enormous. Across the two countries, thousands of buildings have collapsed, and many more have been partially destroyed. Delivering relief efforts across such a huge scale is incredibly difficult, particularly when so much infrastructure—such as airports, roads, and viaducts—has also been damaged. These circumstances are, sadly, compounded by the harsh challenges of winter, with many of those left homeless now braving the elements in freezing temperatures and snow.

Last week, New Zealand announced financial support, totalling $4.5 million, towards the response on the ground in Türkiye and Syria. This support includes $1.5 million to support the Turkish Red Crescent and Syrian Arab Red Crescent, $2 million to be delivered through the World Food Programme in Türkiye, and $1 million to support the UNICEF response in Syria. In addition to financial support, two Fire and Emergency New Zealand specialists are providing remote support to the search and rescue efforts from New Zealand, as part of a connected global team. Fire and Emergency New Zealand is obviously responding to ongoing domestic emergencies in New Zealand, including Cyclone Gabrielle, so we are pleased that they are able to contribute to this international effort as well.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs contacted her Turkish counterpart last week to express New Zealand’s solidarity in the spirit of our ANZAC friendship. Our embassy in Ankara remains in close contact with Turkish and Syrian authorities and international partners. The Government will continue to explore how else New Zealand can assist, and we will be responsive to the needs and requests of the Turkish and Syrian Governments over the coming weeks and months.

I know that New Zealanders will have been moved by the devastation that has been caused by these events. This is especially so given our own experience of living through significant earthquakes. This motion offers New Zealand’s manaaki in support to the people of Türkiye and Syria, whose lives have been so profoundly affected by these earthquakes, and it is also to assure them that we will continue, then, to support them through their recovery.

SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National): The New Zealand National Party joins the Government in supporting the motion before the House this afternoon. We join the Government in the expression of condolence for the losses suffered by those affected both in Türkiye and Syria as a result of those devastating earthquakes.

The scale of losses and damage seen in coverage from sites evokes in those of us who directly experienced the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes a strong empathy for the suffering of so many people who are mourning the loss of what is sure to be near 40,000 people and who are trying to patch up their lives and see a future ahead of them. We have at least some understanding of what they are going through, albeit on a much greater scale. We recognise the agony of distance that will be playing on the minds of Turkish and Syrian New Zealanders.

As the Minister said, the scale of the aid effort there is quite phenomenal, and the expanse across which that aid has to be delivered is vast. New Zealand will, I’m sure, continue to support international efforts to assist, not only as we are at the moment in the offshore search and rescue but also in the coming reconstruction.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank two New Zealand reporters: Mei Heron and Lisette Reymer, whose work for both TV ONE and TV3 have very much brought into our lives the devastation that so many are suffering in Türkiye and Syria. They’ve worked in very difficult circumstances to ensure that we understand just how big this event is from our own perspective. So, with those words, I commend this motion to the House.

Hon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green): E te Māngai o te Whare, tēnā koe. I stand with the others in this House to express the Green Party’s deep condolences and support for the people of Türkiye and Syria. The tragic and shocking loss of life in Syria and Türkiye is difficult for us to comprehend so far away, and I have to say I struggle to find words that can truly do justice to the depth of human suffering that this disaster has wrought. The images are shocking, showing the terrible scale of destruction, and the death toll which currently stands at about 35,000 is a truly horrific loss of life, equivalent to the entire population of our town of Gisborne.

Beyond those killed in Türkiye, more than 1 million people are displaced. In Syria, which is a country of course already ravaged by years of war, the estimate is around 5.3 million people—larger than the entire population of Aotearoa—many of whom are stuck sleeping outside in freezing winter temperatures. The Green Party urges the Government to put in place emergency measures to assist in the global efforts, to address the huge refugee crisis that this disaster has generated. We ask that the response include the resettlement of victims, support for people in New Zealand whose families have been affected, the extension of visas of people from Türkiye and Syria onshore, and an expanded refugee quota. We do acknowledge the humanitarian relief already provided by the Government and we would urge continued commitment beyond this.

The displacement that natural disasters, exacerbated by the effects of the climate crisis, will cause globally has long been a pressing issue, and Aotearoa must be part of the global effort to reckon with it. Inadequate humanitarian responses in the past have left many in affected regions in poor, temporary, or transitional arrangements which of course has contributed to disproportionate death and injury rates in this particular disaster. We must do better in a world where experts predict over a billion refugees by 2050, many or most of whom will have been displaced by climate change. A compassionate and urgent approach amongst all countries committed to human rights must begin now in response to this disaster.

As I said, the scale of suffering wrought by the quake is enormous but it is individual human stories that really stay with us, such as that of a newborn baby rescued from the wreckage, found alongside its mother who had died. Many of us in New Zealand will feel a connection to the earthquake and to its destruction, particularly those in Christchurch who, of course, know firsthand the damage to lives, and the fear and anxiety that these sort of disasters can wreak.

I urge all of us to hold the people of Türkiye and Syria in our thoughts as we deal with the impacts of our own crises here at home. We must reflect on the urgency with which we must move to create a world where all people are safe and supported, where, as a planet, we extend all the support that we would hope to receive if such a disaster befell our own. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT): Thank you, Mr Speaker. The ACT Party supports this motion and we offer our deepest condolences to all of those who have lost loved ones in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Türkiye and Syria and in the subsequent aftershocks. We think of New Zealanders with connection to Türkiye and Syria seeing the effects of the earthquakes from afar, and our thoughts remain with the hundreds of thousands of Turkish and Syrian peoples who have been displaced by the earthquakes.

People have lost loved ones, their homes, and their possessions. They will now be processing the shock of what has occurred and wondering what the future will now look like. The impact of this event on lives will become more apparent over the coming weeks as more information comes to light, but it has been reported that in Syria alone, some 5.3 million people may have been left homeless because of the earthquakes. That is more than our entire population, and it is truly hard to grasp that number. Refugee settlements sheltering some of the world’s most vulnerable were also among many of the settlements impacted by the earthquake and the aftershocks, and it’s feared that many will not be able to be protected from the freezing temperatures those regions are currently experiencing.

Efforts to aid those most desperate people have also been hindered by the ongoing geopolitical tensions and continued conflict in Syria. This further compounds the complexity and the urgency of the situation at hand, and shows the importance of a unified international response. The ACT Party wishes to acknowledge the international efforts of States from across the world in response to the event so far—and it’s been truly international. Not only have we seen aid and financial support for Türkiye and Syria but we have also seen significant commitments of manpower. As of 10 February, just four days after the initial earthquake, over 130 international urban search and rescue teams were working in the earthquake-impacted areas of Türkiye, and a further 57 international search and rescue teams were en route.

For many of us New Zealanders who see pictures of the earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye, it will bring back painful memories of earthquakes here in our own country. We know the tragedy, the heartache, and the effort that it takes to rebuild from earthquakes in our recent memory. And as a small State ourselves, with significant seismic activity, we know just how important and valuable the global aid can be in the aftermath. We encourage the Government of New Zealand to continue our aid efforts to Türkiye and Syria. Although we’ve already given much—$4.5 million in aid—we must continue to play our part in the international response to this disaster, and support those who have been affected by it. Once again, our thoughts are with the people of Türkiye and Syria.

DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori): I rise on behalf of Te Paati Māori to send our aroha to the people of Syria and Türkiye whose worlds, as we’ve shared this afternoon, were shattered in the middle of the night. People who have lived under the oppression of imperialism and civil war are now living through one of the deadliest humanitarian disasters that the world has ever seen.

On February 6, Syria and Türkiye were struck by two devastating earthquakes. The first happened in the middle of the night while families slept. Sadly, whatever was weakened by the first earthquake was later destroyed by the second. Since then, at least 800 aftershocks have rippled their land. Some of those aftershocks alone are more powerful than the earthquakes that forever changed Christchurch in 2011. To date, 36,000 people have lost their lives. At least 70,000 more have been injured. Over 500,000 have been displaced. In total, 23 million people have been affected. Families, children, and elderly are stuck outside in freezing cold temperatures that are as low as negative 3 degrees, with no homes, trying to recover their loved ones.

Citizens of both nations have been hit so hard by inflation that helping their neighbours with basic necessities has become an expensive luxury. But people are doing all they can—I want to acknowledge the resilience of these peoples, who—despite losing their loved ones, their homes, their everything—have maintained this sense of kotahitanga and love for one another. It is now up to us to match that aroha and manaakitanga.

I was absolutely disgusted this morning to see a cartoon in a major European publication depicting damaged buildings, rubble, and toppled cars with the caption “no need to send tanks.” Aotearoa, we need to show we are better than our so-called allies. We cannot allow these racist and imperialist attitudes to influence how we respond to global humanitarian crises. The Western World has proven its capability for destruction in the Middle East. Now is the time for Aotearoa to lead by example: to transcend politics and pledge all the support we can afford to rebuild and help erase and ease the mamae of the people of Syria and Türkiye. He maungārongo ki te mata o te whenua, he whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa, tēnā koutou katoa. [May there be peace on earth, and may good thoughts come to all people, greetings one and all.]

Motion agreed to.

Ministerial Statements

Cyclone Gabrielle—Declaration of State of National Emergency

Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): I wish to make a ministerial statement under Standing Order 364 in relation to the recent declaration of a state of national emergency.

On the advice of the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, and in consultation with the Prime Minister, I declared a state of national emergency under section 66 of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 on Tuesday, 14 February 2023, at 8.43 a.m. for the following civil defence emergency management group areas: Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Tai Rāwhiti, and Hawke’s Bay. I also declared a state of national emergency for the Tararua district, allowing it to be included within the nationally coordinated response. This is to manage the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle across the North Island. I took this step because the impacts from Cyclone Gabrielle are of such a degree that the civil defence emergency management necessary, or desirable, is, or will likely be, beyond the resources of the impacted civil defence emergency management groups. This event also requires a significant and coordinated response by and across central and local government.

This has been an exceptionally tough time for people across Aotearoa, in our cities, towns, and rural communities. Our thoughts are with those across New Zealand who are being impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, and I particularly acknowledge those across the north and east of the North Island who are experiencing the compounding effects of multiple severe weather events over this summer.

I’m aware a member of Fire and Emergency New Zealand is still missing, and a second critically injured, from helping in the response. My thoughts are with them, their colleagues, friends, and family at this time.

I’d like to recognise the extraordinary efforts of emergency management staff, emergency services, volunteers, and iwi, community and rural leaders across the regions, and say thank you on behalf of all New Zealanders. Even though national coordination is now in place, the response has been, and continues to be, led at a local and regional level through civil defence emergency management groups.

Cyclone Gabrielle has already led to many thousands of homes being without power at times during the storm, and further outages are possible. We are also seeing evacuations in multiple regions, landslips, road closures, surface flooding, and flight and train cancellations.

We aren’t out of the woods yet. Forecasts show that the North Island will continue to experience severe weather today before easing on Wednesday and Thursday. I am heartened by the images of community members showing such great support for one another. Many evacuated residents are staying with friends or family, and marae have played a valuable role by opening their doors to those who need support.

I also want to acknowledge all members in this House, from all parties, who have worked hard on behalf of their constituents during this time. For those parties outside of Government, thank you for working constructively with agencies and Ministers on behalf of your constituents. I particularly want to acknowledge the Hon Gerry Brownlee for his support and guidance throughout this time. There’s no time for political games at times like this, and you’ve lived up to that. So thank you.

The National Emergency Management Agency’s national coordination centre has been activated since 27 January in support of the upper North Island flooding response and now Cyclone Gabrielle. Over the past week, hundreds of staff from the emergency services, the New Zealand Defence Force, the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Ministry for Social Development, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Waka Kotahi, Te Puni Kōkiri, as well as the National Emergency Management Agency, and civil defence and emergency management (CDEM) groups have been on the ground across all affected areas.

In response to this event, 200 New Zealand Defence Force staff have been deployed, including 125 in Greater Auckland, 25 in Thames-Coromandel, 21 in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, 21 in Tauranga. At least 137 civil defence centres, marae, and other community centres have been stood up across the country.

Welfare and infrastructure needs are likely to increase as the full extent of the damage becomes clearer. The Government will ensure welfare services are available to help people with their needs. This is being delivered across the regions affected—and, again, local marae are supporting the delivery in multiple ways, such as providing additional shelter locations for displaced people. To date, over $14 million in civil defence payments have also been provided by the Ministry of Social Development to just under 27,000 people in need since the Auckland flooding of 27 January.

This is only the third time in New Zealand’s history that a state of national emergency has been declared under our civil defence and emergency management legislation. The first was on 23 February 2011, following the 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch. The second was declared on 25 March 2020, owing to the impact of COVID-19 on New Zealand. The state of national emergency will be in place for a period of seven days, unless extended or terminated early. If the need for central government coordination becomes clear in other regions, these may also be brought in to the nationally coordinated response.

Under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, today’s state of national emergency declaration means the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management may control the performance of functions, duties, and powers of civil defence emergency management groups and group controllers in those areas. While in force, it will allow the national controller—in addition to CDEM group level controllers—to conserve and supply food, fuel, and other essential supplies; close roads and public places; evacuate any premises, including a public place; requisition property, including any land, building, vehicle, animal, equipment, materials, or supplies; direct persons to stop any activity that may cause or substantially contribute to an emergency; and undertake works—for example, earthworks, required for stabilising land and property. This declaration gives us the legal authority to coordinate and prioritise resources at a national level to ensure they get where they are most needed.

Soon, the Government will begin turning its attention to how it can support the recovery. The Government is strongly committed to supporting the regions as they recover from damage caused by the cyclone. We can expect the recovery to be long and complex in many areas, and we’ll assess these needs once the full extent of damage is known. For now, our focus is on continuing to support the response as Cyclone Gabrielle passes. We will continue to work with the regions to identify needs and provide any further support needed.

Mr Speaker, I know that you and members across the House will join me in expressing our support and aroha to those impacted by this unprecedented emergency event, and gratitude to those—often personally affected themselves—who have risen to the needs of the situation to support their communities at this time. To all those caught up in the event I say: kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui hoki.

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National): Can I thank the Minister for that very full statement of exactly what the state of national emergency means, not only for the formalities of it but, in particular, for the people who are affected by this disaster. The National Party supports the actions that have been taken by the Minister in declaring this state of emergency across the affected areas. This event is still unfolding, and so this is the right thing to do after so many people being affected.

We would like to extend our concern and our best wishes—which seems a little trite, but none the less—for those who are so badly affected by the floodwaters, by the slips, and by the other consequences of the natural disaster. We also offer our heartfelt thanks to the local and national emergency management personnel and the many volunteers who are out there, going about their job to help. We also want to extend to those first responders, who do take on those extra risks, our great admiration and thanks. For those local communities who have battled away for so long with their local states of emergency, this national state of emergency should be seen as an affirmation of the work that they are doing and the scale of the disaster that they are trying to mitigate.

Nothing will be clear about the full extent of the damage that has come from this event until it has well passed. Those assessments will come in due course. There are many questions that could be asked in the usual exchange that occurs when a ministerial statement is made, but it seems to me that while we’re in the middle of that emergency, such questions are going to only detract from the necessity to focus on the best interests of those people who are most affected. So can I simply say to the Minister, thank you for your engagement and thank you for the work that you’re doing. We will of course want to discuss further with you what might happen once the state of emergency has passed. Thank you.

Hon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green): Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Green Party also supports the declaration of a state of emergency in response to Cyclone Gabrielle. I do want to thank the Government and the Minister for the decisive and comprehensive course of action that they are taking in response to this crisis.

I have to say that, just when we thought we had had our worst climate-related disaster in this country only two weeks ago, we are now facing an even more significant challenge. Last week, I went up to Auckland and saw the damage and saw the work that community organisations have been doing, including visiting a house that had been lifted completely off its foundations by the force of the water and shunted across its sections.

I have to say that, as I stand here today, I struggle to find words to express what I am thinking and feeling about this particular crisis. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as sad or as angry about the lost decades that we spent bickering and arguing about whether climate change was real or not, whether it was caused by humans or not, whether it was bad or not, whether we should do something about it or not, because it is clearly here now, and, if we do not act, it will get worse.

I’ve been recalling, actually, a quote from a different time about a different crisis: “The era of procrastination, of half measures, of soothing and baffling expedience of delays, is coming to its close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences.” And there will be people who say—just as the National Rifle Association in the United States does about shootings over there—it’s “too soon” to talk about these things, but we are standing in it right now. This is a climate change - related event. The severity of it, of course, made worse by the fact that our global temperatures have already increased by 1.1 degrees. We need to stop making excuses for inaction. We cannot put our heads in the sand when the beach is flooding. We must act now.

I do have, and my caucus do have, some questions. Is he confident that emergency management operations can learn from these events and improve responses to future climate-related extreme weather?

Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): I am. By virtue of process, there is always a review of each response, no matter the size. There is always lessons to be learnt. Lessons don’t always come from mistakes, but they always come from responses. We’ll be taking all lessons on board, as we always do.

Hon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green): Thank you. What information, if any, has he received on the impacts of these events for people who are on lower incomes and in less secure housing?

Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): Well, I’ve seen with my own eyes—and other Ministers have reported from their engagement with communities, as have members from across the House—that there is no doubt that when these severe weather events occur, it is often lower-income communities, rural communities, and isolated communities that are impacted the hardest.

Hon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green): What measures are in place to ensure that support is simple to access and responsive to everyone’s needs, particularly for marginalised people, such as those with disabilities, those without current visas, or those who are not fluent in English?

Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): I think the announcement made by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Development and Employment, the Hon Carmel Sepuloni, yesterday demonstrated that there is awareness of the need for welfare provisions in particular marginalised communities. I think members will also recognise that the communication efforts throughout this response, targeting those from the disability community, have been improved substantially from the start.

Dr ELIZABETH KEREKERE (Green): Ka tukuna te aroha ki te hunga e noho pōuri ana nā te whakamōti o ngā waipuke ki Te Tai Tokerau, Tāmaki-makau-rau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Tai Rāwhiti me te Hawke’s Bay.

[I express my sympathy for those impacted by the destruction of the floods in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, the East Coast, and Hawke’s Bay.]

What steps is the Government taking to ensure power and internet companies can safely and quickly reconnect houses currently cut off, including in remote areas of the Tai Rāwhiti, where a substation is currently underwater?

Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): I’ve been constantly engaging with the relevant Ministers—the Minister of digital communications, in particular, but also the Minister of energy. Lines companies are experts at reconnecting communities at the earliest possible convenience—the fact being, of course, that during a severe weather event, the earliest possible convenience can be delayed substantially. We need to ensure the safety of practitioners throughout the country, but we have, in our constant engagement, received assurances that as soon as it is safe to do so, and as long as it is safe to do so, they will continue to work hard to reconnect communities.

Dr ELIZABETH KEREKERE (Green): What support will be available for people stuck without power for days, or even weeks, in these areas?

Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): Of course, at the moment, we are assessing the impact of the power outages and continually looking at what provision could be provided. At this stage, we haven’t had an indication that it could be the longer end of the time frame that the member provided, but, if that is the case, we will ensure that welfare provision is in place and that, first and foremost, people’s safety remains a priority in the recovery.

Dr ELIZABETH KEREKERE (Green): Kia ora. And what support will be available to address the mental health impacts of all of these events?

Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): There is no doubt that these events cause significant anxiety to people involved, to those that have family members involved, and to even those that may have experienced them previously but aren’t currently impacted by this. I know that the provision and support through mental health services is a priority; I’ve discussed this with the Minister of Health. I would encourage everyone that feels anxious, that might be impacted by this, that their mental health is being hit by this, to reach out and seek help. There is no weakness in doing so. The support is there, and we encourage everyone to access that.

Hon EUGENIE SAGE (Green): Tēnā koe, Minister, and thank you for the national emergency. Just weeks after Cyclone Hale dumped tonnes of forestry slash on farmland, on crops, under bridges, in riverbeds, above people’s homes, and on beaches, Cyclone Gabrielle is doing the same again. People in the Tai Rāwhiti, East Coast area have had to cope with repeated states of emergency. What reports has he had from civil defence and emergency management teams about the issues with forestry slash in the East Coast region, and what is being done in response?

Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): There’s no doubt that forestry slash is causing an unwelcome and unneeded additional element to the weather event—particularly in Tai Rāwhiti, but not exclusively there. I have not received a report specifically about that from emergency management other than the impact that it is causing. However, I have discussed the matter with the Minister of Forestry and I understand that he has made public statements indicating his likely work progress moving forward on that, so I refer the member to those statements.

SPEAKER: I understand this is a split call as well—David Seymour.

DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): Yes, well, thank you, Mr Speaker. As communicated, I’d like to make a few general comments, ask a few questions of the Minister, and have my colleague Mark Cameron—who speaks for the rural folk who’ve been differently, often more acutely, affected by recent events—say a few things as well.

First and foremost, this is a debate on the Minister’s declaration of a national state of emergency, and I want to say that ACT supports that basic action, although we have some questions around its timing, the logic behind it, and, therefore, how long it will go on, and what it allows the Government to do that it couldn’t do previously.

However, I had understood and hoped that when Parliament resumed, time would be set aside to acknowledge an earlier tragedy, one that has had this new one of Cyclone Gabrielle layered on top of it, and that is the anniversary weekend or January floods which affected Auckland. I think that they too deserve some acknowledgment because as Cyclone Gabrielle was announced and began to make its perilous way across the Tasman to New Zealand, many people in Auckland—in the Epsom electorate and beyond—who had recently had their homes flooded and lost their livelihoods, were viewing it through the lens of, “Well, I know that my place is flood-prone. I question the response around protecting it. Will it now happen again?” For the most part, Gabrielle, in Auckland at least, has been a matter of wind rather than rain, and they have been spared that.

But I think the House should also acknowledge the very treacherous journey that people have trodden over the past two weeks. First of all, having their homes flooded, their belongings soiled, struggling to get rid of belongings that were a public health hazard in many cases, having been affected by sewage backflowing out of their toilets. They’ve dealt with looting. In one case, Erin, a constituent of mine, was burgled, having already lost everything. And yet, in spite of all of this difficulty, we saw tremendous camaraderie, tremendous community spirit, and—although belatedly, some would argue—a local government that swung into action and got the drains cleared to largely ameliorate the challenges of flooding when the rains came again on Tuesday. I think that needs to be acknowledged by the House and will need to be debated more fulsomely at a later time.

Now, in a much wider area of New Zealand, from the far north of Cape Reinga right down to Hawke’s Bay, and everywhere in between it seems, people are facing devastation on an extraordinary scale. There is a lot that could be said, but I’ll keep my remarks brief as ACT and our MPs are watching, are listening, are talking to people affected, and are hearing from live reports and real reports from people every hour. Our commitment—and I say this in collaboration with two of the people who have spoken so far—is that practical measures to make sure that people are able to recover will meet with bipartisan support. We have also heard somebody attempt to politicise the issue and put it through their particular lens—very happy to do that, but not in this debate. I don’t think it’s appropriate. I think a lot of people—and we’ll just hear from rural people—in the farming community will say the idea, “If only the Government made them sacrifice a few calves, we’d be delivered from the storm.” I don’t think that helps right now, but I thought that needs to be said.

I want to ask the Minister about his decision making over the last 24 hours. In particular, I want to ask him: what was different this morning at 8.43 a.m. that led him to declare a national state of emergency, when he hadn’t done so in the previous 24 hours?

Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): The first request for advice on a state of national emergency was made to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Sunday. Since then, the agency has been providing the Prime Minister and myself with regular assessments and advice as to whether a declaration was required. It is a high bar and we needed to assess whether local civil defence groups, with their resources and the resources that the Government had already provided, were in a position to be able to provide the response to their communities without the benefit of a national coordinated approach.

The difference between last night, when the advice was that it was not required, and this morning, when it was that it should be declared, was that a meeting was held—as it has been done every morning between NEMA and local civil defence groups. Since that stage, Hawke’s Bay declared, and it was decided from feedback that they provided NEMA that the various responses across Northland, Auckland; Bay of Plenty; Waikato, including Coromandel; Tai Rāwhiti; Hawke’s Bay then; and now the Tararua District would benefit from a nationally coordinated response.

It is worth pointing out that a declaration of a national emergency does not necessarily mean that more resources will go into those communities, because resources have been given to those communities. It is not a reflection of a lack of confidence in the local community responses. It is simply that, given the level of destruction and disruption to the communities, and the number of local emergencies, they felt, and NEMA felt, that they would benefit from national coordination here at the national coordination centre.

DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): In light of that answer, what conditions would the Minister need to see to cease the state of national emergency? Can he tell people what to look for to know when he will end this?

Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): Well, there are obviously two phases, at least, in a response. One is the immediate emergency response and one is the recovery phase. As I mentioned in my ministerial statement, the recovery phase of this event is likely to be long, it is likely to be expensive—and it will need to be, in order to make sure that people receive the welfare needs that they have. There are two phases in a national state of emergency: one is focused on the response, and another is the recovery. So we will be continuing to coordinate nationally with those regions as long as they feel that that is required. I’m not in a position to be able to give a direct answer to that now, but we won’t keep this in place for any longer than it needs to be—but we will keep it in place as long as they need it.

DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): There was an incident last night where the old Colonial Ammunition Company Shot Tower was in danger of falling over—or judged to be. Around 50 homes were evacuated. People were re-accommodated with the community or in an emergency centre. It seemed that Auckland was able to get the job done there. What sort of things could national Government have done in that case to achieve a different outcome? Or are there other circumstances where you believe that the national state of emergency would make a difference?

Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): Well, of course, without wanting to appear flippant, this is more than about Auckland. There are some regions in this response that have the resources and are able to do what is needed; there are others that would benefit from a national response. There was mixed feedback given to NEMA officials today when they consulted civil defence groups. Some said they needed it; some said they didn’t—but there’s a significant difference between saying that they didn’t need it, but they didn’t think that it was warranted. The clear message with engagement with civil defence groups is that the broader response across various regions, including some very rural areas that require assistance, is that they would benefit from the national coordination that comes with the declaration of a state of national emergency.

Hon Gerry Brownlee: Mr Speaker?

SPEAKER: It’s an ACT Party call. National didn’t use all of its time, so this is their call; so once they’ve finished, if you seek leave, I’ll come to you—Mark Cameron.

MARK CAMERON (ACT): Thank you, Mr Speaker. Rural New Zealand has seen firsthand the extreme weather events. Sadly, these are quite routine, and quite often we’re very isolated in rural New Zealand and know firsthand what it feels like. Episodic events like Hale and Gabrielle are few and far between, but routinely they hurt us in rural New Zealand, quite often worse than our civilian urban counterparts. We’re resilient people in rural New Zealand. We’re bloody tough people, and quite often we find ourselves on our own for lengthy periods of time.

I’ve got to go home when Parliament rises to hand-milk 300 cows for probably two weeks because we won’t have power. This is the kind of ongoing reality in rural New Zealand when these episodic events happen. Central areas around New Zealand—Northland, the East Coast, potentially without power for up to a week. Significant infrastructure—bridges gone, houses gone, people’s lives destroyed. I’m here, as my own livestock—some of them have gone. Forgive me if I break down; I invested 33 years of my life into this farming career. Houses swept away, as I’ve mentioned; people’s livelihoods upturned. Gracious me—where I live, thousands of acres of water currently reside in what are normally farm paddocks. Thirty percent of Ruawai is underwater. It’ll recede, I’m sure, but will the lives be untouched? I very much doubt.

Logistical support? Sporadic. I wager anyone worth their salt—it’ll be weeks before that’s back to normal. Tankers, livestock freight, and food for animals. What about the animal welfare issues? The good Minister, I’m sure, might be able to enlighten us what that looks like. Runaway mastitis that quite often does away with livestock in rural New Zealand, and the massive somatic cell count problem we’re going to have with dairy cows, let alone the beef animals that have been swept away in low-lying areas.

I am thinking of rural New Zealand; the ACT Party is thinking of rural New Zealand. Goodness gracious me, I am still in this House representing my people, because I absolutely believe in rural people, my people—ACT people. I come here to represent rural people, talking about He Waka Eke Noa and what that looks like in their lives. Significant natural areas and the erosion of property rights, freshwater concerns, and on-farm grazing—what does that mean to rural New Zealand? Yet again, I am here as my farm is being swept away, because I absolutely love rural New Zealand and everyone in it. ACT members and myself will stand up for rural New Zealand as long as I am in this building. Thank you very much.

SPEAKER: The National Party have 2½ minutes left, if you want to take that now.

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National): My question for the Minister is, given some of the other questions that have come through—there was mention made of the recovery period, which is a statutory provision now in the emergency management Act. It can last for seven or more weeks, but, quite clearly, with some of the recovery that’s going to be needed, given some of the commentary that we’ve heard this afternoon, it’s going to last a heck of a lot longer than that. So, during that period, will the Government give consideration to some kind of enabling Act that might mean that the works that are necessary to recover can be done in a speedy fashion outside of the long processes that might otherwise exist?

Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): I appreciate the opportunity to reassure the member and reassure the communities that are affected that if that’s what’s required, the Government will consider that. We can’t let barriers be presented that will stop communities being able to recover from what is clearly a very devastating event.

DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori): Tēnā koe e te Māngai.

Ka hora te marino,

Ka whakapapa pounamu te moana,

Kia tere te kārohirohi i mua i tōu huarahi.

[May the calm be widespread,

May the ocean glisten as greenstone,

May the shimmer of light ever dance across your pathway.]

I rise to send the aroha of Te Paati Māori to everyone around the country bunkering down, keeping safe, looking after their whānau, and battling rising floodwaters. My thoughts are with emergency service workers, our Māori response leaders, who are going above and beyond to serve their communities and save people from terrible situations. My heart aches when I hear news of firefighters trapped—are missing—workers stranded on roofs and towns in rural areas cut off from essential services. Ka nui te aroha.

This cyclone comes only weeks after catastrophic flooding which hammered Te Tai Tokerau, Tāmaki-makau-rau, Waitomo, and Hauraki, and all of those rohe have been badly hit. Te Tai Rāwhiti has been hit time and time and time again, and no effort should be spared in getting these rohe the short-term, medium-term, and long-term help that they need. We are glad that a national state of emergency has been declared and we acknowledge the Government for that.

The seriousness of this cyclone has been obvious for days and, while some don’t want to politicise today, I’ve left my community to send a very political message: the seriousness of this disruption was clear from the ground, and yet it clearly wasn’t for National, who yesterday at the Business Committee blocked Parliament being able to meet virtually, claiming this would be a one-day event, which clearly it’s not. As these extreme weather events occur more often with greater severity, we need to adjust and ensure our Parliament can still operate, even if MPs can’t make it to Wellington. As MPs, we should be focused on the ground, looking after our communities and whānau, checking on kaumātua and disabled, dropping off kai—these aren’t one-day events. We can’t just carry on like nothing has happened. It seems like some want to ignore communities and lead this nation from the comfort of their chambers. People like that aren’t fit to lead this nation, and we have to be real—real with our neighbours, real with our whānau, and real with ourselves because climate change is here, it is now, and we are seeing it before our very eyes. It is forcing us to batten down the hatches as we sandbag our homes and stock up our supplies. Government must take responsibility for their response to these disasters, and I acknowledge the Minister’s mihi.

As always, we are seeing that marae, iwi, and urban Māori organisations are the first to set up emergency response centres. They must be properly resourced, recognising they are always leading from the front. We have long known that we need much better strategies and infrastructure to respond to these extreme weather events. The Minister of Climate Change should be establishing an equity-based adaption fund to ensure we have that infrastructure, and that whānau have what they need, whether they are insured or not. He also needs to secure funding for whānau, hapū, and iwi to establish climate change adaption plans, so that we can protect marae, homes, and communities. All of this is long overdue, and communities across Aotearoa are now paying the price for Government inaction. We have not seen the transformative action that was promised. These disasters have not just exposed flaws in infrastructure but they’ve also exposed flaws in leadership. We didn’t need a new Minister for Auckland; we needed a whole-of-Government response to climate change. We needed coordinated, radical action and for climate adaption to be a top priority, not a nice-to-have. We must have the central leadership role of tangata whenua respected and acknowledged. Aotearoa deserves a better climate leadership. We must demand change.

To our whānau: it is timely to reflect on the teachings of our tūpuna, listen to our maramataka, and restore our awa, moana, and whenua. There is nothing that we can’t survive, no crisis too great, no challenge too much, as long as we stand together. Nō reira, e te iwi maranga mai. Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui. We’ve got this. Kia ora rā.

Adjournment

Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Leader of the House): I move, That the House do now adjourn until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 21 February 2023.

I bring this motion to the House reluctantly, but Cyclone Gabrielle represents the most severe weather event that New Zealand has experienced this century. The devastation in many regions in the North Island is enormous and we are still yet to understand the full impact of it. Roads and broader transport networks, power, telecommunication networks, and damage to homes and businesses is enormous and will take a considerable time to recover from.

The declaration of a national emergency, as the Minister for Emergency Management has indicated, has only happened twice before, and Parliament did adjourn on both of those occasions. I know that members of Parliament across the House want to be in their communities at this time, and I want to join with the Minister in acknowledging the exceptional role played by MPs from all political parties in supporting their communities over recent weeks, and, in particular, in the last 48 hours. That is an important role that members of Parliament play, and it is one that I believe this House must strongly support to continue.

I also want to acknowledge that the declaration of a national emergency means that a large number of Ministers now take on an increased role within the response. This means that Ministers and the full apparatus of Government need to be focused on providing that response, particularly in the next 48 hours as we make sure that we get a full understanding of what is happening on the ground. As a result of all of that, I believe it is the right thing to bring this motion to the House.

Members of the House will be aware that this week was largely to have focused on the Prime Minister’s statement and the debate in response to that statement. I am sure colleagues will appreciate that the Prime Minister wants to be—and, I believe, should be—out and about in the communities that have been affected, making sure that the Government fully understands the situation that is there, and so that he can provide that leadership on the ground, as, indeed, I know other members of Parliament want to do as well. Equally, I’m sure, colleagues would appreciate that the Prime Minister’s statement is often a very political debate and that now is probably not the right time to be engaged in that kind of debate.

I would let the House know that it is our intention, when we do return on Tuesday of next week, that we will have the week that we had originally planned for this week—that will be the Prime Minister’s statement on Tuesday, the debate that follows from that, and then a normal House sitting programme on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. I would also like to add that the Minister for Emergency Management is providing information to MPs across the House about the response and also about some of the impacts on infrastructure, and that material will continue to be provided to all MPs to ensure that that information is available as and when it is needed.

So, as I say, I reluctantly bring this motion. I know that all parties would rather that we were able to carry on, but, in the circumstances facing many New Zealanders today, whose lives and livelihoods have been devastated, the right thing to do is to do our jobs in our communities and return here next week.

SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): Thank you, Mr Speaker. It’s fair to say this was not the way we expected or wanted the Parliament to commence in 2023. Right now, we should be engaging in the cut and thrust of the Prime Minister’s statement debate, but there we have it.

I firstly want to acknowledge the new Leader of the House for what, so far, has been a very open and collegial approach to an incredibly fluid process. I think there’s a bit of wisdom after the event and questions around the actions of the Government, which, overall, I support. But I think he’s on about plan D or E. What was contemplated on Sunday was very different from what we discussed in the Business Committee late yesterday, and different again from the motion which we’re now considering. But I do thank him for his engagement.

I also want to acknowledge the Business Committee, despite the direct attack on me that’s just been made. I was the first to approach the Leader of the House to express support for a determination that all members affected by the cyclone could be considered present for the purposes of voting. I enthusiastically supported one minor party’s ability to attend Te Matatini next week and to be present for the purposes of voting. I have encouraged the Speaker to exercise his discretion to support small parties, and I will be working in the Standing Orders Committee to make sure that definition is perhaps made more flexible, and that the question of remote participation—the sessional order for which is only COVID-related—can be more broadly applied if that’s the will of the House.

But the reality was that in the time available, for the short duration—bearing in mind that at that point, nearly all MPs were going to be able to make it here by late today or early tomorrow—it was not deemed—and not just by the National Party—necessary or appropriate to invoke that. There is a member of this place who may want to consider what role she wants to play, because being an MP means being here, and as Mark Cameron said, representing our communities, holding the Government to account even in an emergency—in fact, especially in an emergency.

So the question of supporting this motion is a line-ball call, that’s really important. But we have heard from the Minister for Emergency Management, and I think more strongly the compelling testimonies from our colleagues and from media where we now know there are 170,000 houses without power, a grid emergency; people on the roofs of buildings with water centimetres below them. The tragedy potentially unfolding within our Fire and Emergency New Zealand staff—we do very much think about them and all responders right across the affected areas and thank them for the tremendous work, at some risk that they are putting themselves to.

So, on balance, it is appropriate to suspend the actions of this House, and to go back to the places that need that help and then to, I guess, start again next Tuesday at 2 p.m., where I really hope, after successive little interruptions and big interruptions, that we have an opportunity to get back to the business of this House that’s so important. We will be supporting the motion. We wish everybody affected by the cyclone as best an outcome as can be achieved from now on. And we support the Government in its efforts to support our people.

JAN LOGIE (Green): Thank you, Mr Speaker. To start, to be clear, the Green Party supports this proposal and thanks the Leader of the House for bringing it. But I do want to, firstly, again, express the Green Party’s aroha to everyone who has been directly and indirectly affected by the floods and now by Cyclone Gabrielle, and acknowledge the emergency responders of all stripes who are, right now, putting themselves at risk to keep our communities and our people safe.

It is clear we’re living in the times that we warned about. We are living early-stage climate change. The impacts are anything but abstract. For some, the impacts are literally the roofs over their heads; the loss of all of their possessions, their businesses, of power; of internet, the ability to tell their family members that they’re OK, or actually that they’re not, to be able to even reach out for help on those that we’ve always thought that we could rely and infrastructure we thought was reliable, to move beyond the doors of their home, and to have a sense of security for now and for the future. For so many of us, right now, that’s gone.

People have lost their lives. As a country and as a Parliament, we haven’t even had the chance to properly grieve or mourn for those people—right now, we are sending all of our well wishes to those volunteer firefighters who we desperately hope are still battling for their lives. We send all of our love to their friends and family and colleagues.

It’s the very strong view of our MPs, when we came to the discussion about this adjournment that, and particularly the MPs who are on the ground in affected areas—and you’ll see four seats behind me that are empty; 40 percent of our caucus were unable to get here because they are in those affected areas. They were very clear with us in our caucus discussion that this is not “business as usual” and that they did not believe it was appropriate for Parliament to be continuing on as if this cyclone compounding major unprecedented floods was a minor inconvenience that we just work around. It is not; this is a crisis and needs a crisis response.

We recognise that our Prime Minister and our Ministers and all of the officials across our agencies, that their focus needs to be on working with our people to do whatever is needed at this moment, and recognising that we would have had a political debate and ask questions—and we could have done that better today, in terms of the ministerial statement, if a hybrid Parliament had been enabled yesterday.

I do want to come in somewhat in defence of our Māori Party colleague who drove through the storm to get here to be present in this House so that that party could have a voice in these discussions today. So to be suggesting that they are not doing their job as parliamentarians in prioritising this, in doing that, and putting themselves at risk is not what the Green Party believes this Parliament should be encouraging. We believe that MPs should be able to do their job and be safe and be in proximity to their communities in times of crisis where that is possible through technology. If we’d made that decision yesterday, that would have been possible through technology. For those communities to be able to actually hear their MPs stand up and bring their voices—that they’d had conversations with people about—into this House would have strengthened our democracy. For the Green Party, that is a real shame. As we come to terms with the climate crisis, we need to strengthen our democracy to ensure those voices are stronger in this place as we make those changes. But, again, we support this adjournment proposal.

BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of my ACT Party colleagues opposed to the adjournment of Parliament, as the only party willing to hold the Government to account in spite of an emergency. Our MPs believe we have a duty as representatives to bring our voice, and the voices of members of the public, to this House to hold the Government to account and ask the questions that are on the minds of New Zealanders—those who have been affected by the floods and those who have not.

We’ve heard from our National Party colleague just before that even when there is an emergency—and especially when there is an emergency—we should be here to hold the Government to account. But rather confusingly, they’ve opted to forgo democracy and Parliament. The ACT Party believes we need to be extremely clear: when the Government, in an emergency, takes on extra powers, we should be here to hold those powers to account and to hold the Government to account.

When the ACT Party heard of the cyclone and the travel disruptions that could occur, we did our best to make plans to be in this Chamber so that we could be here to ask questions of the Government. We’ve heard from our colleague Mark Cameron that his own farm has been affected, his own livelihood been affected, his community has been affected, and yet he is here to provide a voice for rural New Zealanders who want to ask questions of the Government—and that is his right and his duty to be here, as it is for all 10 of our ACT MPs. We should have at least made question time an option, even if it was a virtual question time, but instead we’re forgoing Parliament completely.

I do want to acknowledge that it is unfortunate that people across New Zealand have been affected by this cyclone. Many people have lost their homes and their livelihoods, and will be wondering what the effects of this cyclone will be in weeks and months to come. But for many New Zealanders, the worst of the weather event itself has passed. Flights are returning; travel disruptions—in some regards—have not happened. Importantly, members of Parliament who were affected are now able to fly down to Parliament like they were not able to yesterday. We know that people have been affected, but there are people who have been affected who still have questions to ask the Government. And it’s our job and our duty to be here to ask them for them.

On a rough count, looking around this House, there are around 75 members of Parliament here present. That’s 75 members of Parliament who can debate. That’s people who have made travel plans to be in Parliament and people who can question the Government, and I note there are around 11 or 12 Ministers that could be here to be held to account.

Parliament is making the decision to adjourn as the worst of the weather has passed. We know that the effects in the community are severe. There are people going through terrible, terrible events, but what will be different about tomorrow than will be different next week? There will be a clean-up happening in our communities tomorrow; there will be a clean-up in our communities next week. There are houses that may not have power this week, next week, and the following week.

We are in a national state of emergency, but we cannot suspend democracy because of the weather. We have a duty to be here, and we oppose the adjournment of Parliament.

DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori): Tēnā koe e te Māngai. I stand to support the adjournment. We think that it’s important that those that are in this House are out on the ground representing their communities, even if that’s not a priority. What we have seen in the last couple of environmental crises is the Wayne Brown fallout, and I guess it comes down to what type of political leadership we want to do: ones that are a little bit late to understand and empathise with what our communities are living through, ones that have to get guided and taught how to do it, or ones who naturally feel and have a connection to our communities. It’s not for me to tell and be a conscience for any other party except for Te Paati Māori.

We welcome the fact that there could’ve been a virtual solution, and that may well have been a good opportunity for us to be out on the ground and hold the Government to account. Unfortunately, that opportunity hasn’t been afforded. We look forward to that being discussed further in the future. What we do, though, is—if I can just give an insight into what I left: so we have thousands at home without power. We have marae that were standing up COVID responses that are still giving out manaaki packs and looking after all citizens of Aotearoa that have got COVID that are going into lockdown, elderly that don’t have families that live locally. They are the same people who have stood up responses, whether it be Te Kūiti, Manurewa Marae, that have gone out and provided accommodation, kai, assurance, support—physical, mental. Those are things that I don’t think a lot of politicians get to experience and see.

I have parents and grandchildren in houses this morning with no power, and I think what we can do is decide whether we make that a priority, to represent the very communities that we come from, or to arrive here and isolate ourselves from them. Again, it’s not my place to be a conscience for anyone else. But for Te Paati Māori, we recognise that a lot of those whānau don’t have power, they don’t have digital access—they’ve been locked off. They’ve not been able to sit there and get themselves connected to any type of authority or assurance. We have communities, rural particularly, that don’t have any Government support or agencies around them.

So I welcome that we have been given the opportunity to go home and make our communities a priority. Whether you’re a list or an electorate doesn’t really matter, you’re here for the service of other people.

Ka huri ki te kaupapa. Ka tautoko i te karanga a te Kāwana. Kia koha ehara kia hōhā kē. Me whakahoki ki tā tātou whānau. Ko te mea nui he tangata.

[To return to the issue at hand. I support the call of the Government. Give service, not irritation. We should return to our families. People are the most important thing.]

The most important people are those out there, not us in this House. Kia ora koutou.

A party vote was called for on the question, That the House do now adjourn until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 21 February 2023.

Ayes 110

New Zealand Labour 64; New Zealand National 34; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.

Noes 10

ACT New Zealand 10.

Motion agreed to.

SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 21 February 2023. Kia ora.

The House adjourned at 3.14 p.m.