Urgent Debates Declined — Water Exports and Ownership—Prime Minister’s Decision

I have received a letter from Metiria Turei seeking to debate under Standing Order 389 the Prime Minister’s decision to refer the issue of water exports and ownership of water to the technical advisory group within the Ministry for the Environment. This is a particular case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility. The issue of water usage and ownership is an important one for New Zealand, but the test for whether a particular case requires the immediate attention of the House is also a high one. It requires the matter to be of such urgency that it justifies the House spending a substantial part of the sitting debating it. In this case, a technical advisory group has been asked to consider an important issue. No further action has been announced. I am not convinced that the matter has such an element of urgency that it must take precedence over other business of the House. The application is therefore declined.