Urgent Debates Declined — Canterbury, Recovery—Offer on Red Zone Properties

I have received a letter from the Hon Ruth Dyson seeking to debate the recent decision of the High Court on the Government’s offer to buy red zone land from owners as it applied to vacant land and uninsured properties in Canterbury. For there to be an urgent debate, there must be administrative or ministerial responsibility for a case of recent occurrence. The member, in her application, cites the judgment of the High Court issued on 26 August as the particular case of recent occurrence. An urgent debate is a way of holding the Government accountable for an action for which it is responsible. There must be a distinct governmental responsibility for the particular case that is sought for debate. A decision of the High Court is not a matter for which any Minister has responsibility. The application is therefore declined.