Oral Questions

3. to the Prime Minister: Why has he as Prime Minister rejected calls from the Human Rights Commission, victims, and members of the public to conduct a full inquiry into historic abuse in State care?

on behalf of the Prime Minister: Because the Government is taking a practical approach to addressing the abhorrent abuse people suffered while in State care. An inquiry would not resolve the claims of individuals, provide payments, or offer personal apologies. The Government extended the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service, which has provided more help than an inquiry would. We have also taken steps to resolve claims directly and quickly in a way that is personal in each case.

💬 Jacinda Ardern: When he stated “The question would be, would an inquiry add anything?”, did he think to ask survivors themselves that question?

In the context that that statement was made, it is that we have acknowledged the past, listened to it, and those voices that we have heard have shaped the new ministry, its legislation, and the way it cares for children going forward—and it is in that context that it was meant.

💬 Jacinda Ardern: Is he prepared to meet with victims of abuse in State care and repeat to them Anne Tolley’s claims that “We don’t need an inquiry now and no apology is needed because there’s no evidence that it was a systemic problem.”?

I meet with a range of New Zealanders all of the time and will continue to do so in my role.

💬 Jacinda Ardern: Was there systemic abuse in State care?

Well, from what we have heard from the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service, from the way that we are settling claims, then there has been systemic abuse in State care.

💬 Jacinda Ardern: If there was systemic abuse in State care, why did a Cabinet paper claim to the contrary, and why does the Government continue to use such claims to state that there is no reason or rationale for an inquiry?

Because it was in particular institutions and particular places, and we have been redressing that with individuals as their cases come forward, and that is how we have been dealing with it.

💬 Jacinda Ardern: Given the strong call for an inquiry, including from the majority of political parties in this House, is his reluctance all about money instead of about people?

No, because we have actually moved to resolve claims for individuals in the most effective and efficient way that we can for them to give them closure.

💬 Jacinda Ardern: Why is he opposed to issuing a State apology for abuse in State care; not a letter from Anne Tolley, but a State apology?

Because I actually believe that it is far more powerful to actually have individual apologies than a general one.

💬 Marama Fox: How will he respond to the 10,000 people who have signed this open letter put together from the Human Rights Commission, asking for an independent inquiry into the abuse of children in State care?

I expect that that petition will go through select committee, as it does, and the Government would respond to that appropriately.

💬 Marama Fox: I seek leave to table the letter, written in Te Reo Māori and in English, the 10,000 signatures, and the hundreds of individual letters presented to me just now by people who have been abused in State care.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Can I just check that this is not a petition that has been presented to Parliament.

💬 Marama Fox: No, this is an open letter.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: On that basis, I will put the leave and the House will decide. Leave is sought to table the letter and the collation of petitioners. Is there any objection to that course of action? There is none.

Documents, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.

Social Housing, Wellington—Housing Development

4. to the Minister for Social Housing: What recent announcements has she made regarding social housing in Wellington?

Today I announced that work has begun on 145 new social housing units to be built across five Wellington sites. This is a significant building programme that will help drive a transformation of our Wellington social houses, creating modern, fit-for-purpose homes. This represents an investment of $48.5 million and is part of our ongoing commitment to grow and improve our social housing stock across New Zealand.

💬 Brett Hudson: What sorts of tenants are these new social houses designed for?

💬 Hon AMY ADAMS: All of these new homes will be one-bedroom units, which is the main type of home needed in Wellington to respond to social housing demand at the moment, which is increasingly from single people and couples without children. In addition, the new homes at Hanson Street have been specifically designed for people with disabilities, as they will be located close to the hospital, social service agencies, shops, and bus routes. They are fully accessible and have a number of features like designated mobility scooter parking and charging areas.

💬 Grant Robertson: Can the Minister confirm that the 34 flats to be built on the McLean Flats site in central Wellington were, in fact, announced on 13 September 2014; why has there been no activity since then?

💬 Hon AMY ADAMS: Because redeveloping a building of that scale happens in several stages, and what we are announcing today is that the work, as it says in my release, Mr Robertson, is commencing today. Before you commence the work, you get a resource consent, you do a design, you get funding, and you talk to the community. We announced we were starting that. Now we are announcing that we are starting the building.

💬 Hon Peter Dunne: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It was impossible to hear anything of that answer beyond the words “Mr Speaker” because of the noise. I wonder whether the Minister could repeat it.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: It is not unreasonable, because I have no idea what the answer was because of the howling from my immediate left. So I am going to invite the Minister, if she wants to, to conclude the answer, but it will be without any interjection whatsoever from the members on my left.

💬 Hon AMY ADAMS: Mr Speaker, thank you. I am very happy to advise the House that the process of building a large development, like is happening at McLean Flats and like is happening at the five sites across Wellington, is a multifaceted process that begins with resource consenting, funding, designing, and consulting with the community. What we have announced today—as we have said very clearly in the release—is that work is today beginning on the construction.

Todd Barclay—Southland Electorate Office Allegations, Ministerial Conduct

5. to the Prime Minister: In so far as there is prime ministerial responsibility, with all the statements he has made on the Clutha-Southland electorate office issue, has he checked all the facts?

on behalf of the Prime Minister: As I have said previously, there are not any.

💬 Ron Mark: Since the 20 June 2017, can he confirm that no current or former Minister has been informed verbally under the “no surprises principle” of any matters arising from the Clutha-Southland electorate office, in particular by the police?

💬 Mr SPEAKER: The Hon Paula Bennett, on behalf of the Prime Minister and in so far as there may be prime ministerial responsibility.

I have no prime ministerial responsibility for that.

💬 Ron Mark: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. A clarification—the Cabinet Manual makes it quite clear that the Prime Minister has responsibility for all his Ministers.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Order! We have travelled this territory quite a lot over the last couple of weeks. As I have pointed out, only the Prime Minister now knows in what regard any answers have been made, and, in that case, the Deputy Prime Minister, on behalf of the Prime Minister, is saying there was no prime ministerial responsibility. That must be accepted.

💬 Ron Mark: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. So are you saying that if the police, since 20 June 2017, had contacted a Minister on this matter, the Prime Minister has no responsibility for that?

💬 Mr SPEAKER: No, no, I am saying to you—and I am being as clear as I can—that the Deputy Prime Minister, on behalf of the Prime Minister, has given an answer, and that is the answer. I am not responsible for the answer. I have got to conclude whether the answer has addressed the question, and I certainly have concluded that.

💬 Ron Mark: Since 20 June 2017, has the Attorney-General made any comment, verbal or written, to the Prime Minister or the Government on any matter arising from the Clutha-Southland electorate office?

Not that I am aware of.

💬 Ron Mark: Does he agree with this well-known New Zealander, who said “New Zealand politics stays clean because all politicians have presumed the public don’t tolerate corruption, and because politicians do not want the shame of being seen as anything but squeaky clean—until now that is.”; if not, why not?

💬 Mr SPEAKER: The Hon Paula Bennett, on behalf of the Prime Minister, in so far as there may be prime ministerial responsibility.

In the context of the statement that was made and parts of it, I am sure, yes.

💬 Ron Mark: I seek leave to table a document that is not widely available, entitled “There is no shame”, written by the Hon Bill English—

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Order! All I need is the source of the document.

💬 Ron Mark: A letter—an article written by the Hon Bill English—

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! If it is an article, it will have been published, and if the members want it, they can find it. I am not putting the leave.

💬 Ron Mark: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Can I draw your attention to Speaker’s ruling 164/2, made by your good self, given that this article is not widely published.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: This is easily resolved. If the member wants me to put the leave on this occasion, I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table that particular article, which may not be easily available, according to the member. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There is objection.

District Health Boards—Disability Support Services, Funding

To the Associate Minister, has she seen a letter dated 5 May from five district health boards (DHBs) to the Ministry of Health entitled—[Interruption]

Order! There is just a little too much chatter and interjection. I am going to invite the member to start that question again.

Thank you. To the Associate Minister—

💬 Hon Gerry Brownlee: Of what?

💬 Dr DAVID CLARK: —has she—health, Gerry. It is on the Order Paper.

Order! [Interruption] Order! I now understand why there was interjection. It is important, when the member rises to announce the question, that he does so fully, so that the House does know.

6. to the Associate Minister of Health: Has she received a letter dated 5 May from five district health boards to the Ministry of Health entitled “Critical under-resourcing in Regional Intellectual Disability Secure Care”; if not, would she be surprised to find it contains a warning that the Ministry of Health’s “failure to ensure adequate capacity within the sector is such that there is now a serious and in some areas imminent risk of harm to those individuals unable to access the appropriate care, as well as to service providers and their staff”?

No, I have not received a letter, but I understand that the office of the Ministry of Health received a copy earlier this week. However, I am advised by the Ministry of Health that it has been able to manage growing pressure through regional responses and individual solutions. A new, national service is presently being developed for high-risk and high-needs individuals needing a secure and individualised placement, and a long-term solution will be finalised in due course.

💬 Dr David Clark: What action has she taken to reassure the DHBs regarding their concern that “It is apparent that the current level of resourcing is not sufficient to enable the provisions within the IDCC&R Act to be fulfilled in accordance with the underlying purposes of the Act”, and just how satisfied were those DHBs with her response?

💬 Mr SPEAKER: There are two supplementary questions there. The Hon Nicky Wagner can address one or both.

💬 Hon NICKY WAGNER: DHBs are always entitled to raise any concerns. However, I have been advised that currently the ministry has access to up to 66 beds across the country. I am advised by the chief adviser of ID(CC&R) that, to date, the number of beds has been sufficient to meet demand at this time. However, there is always pressure in this area, and we are constantly monitoring capacity. As I said, a long-term solution is being formulated.

💬 Dr David Clark: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I listened very carefully. I asked what action the Minister had taken.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: And I would be inclined to have helped the member, except he broke the first rule—that a supplementary question should have one question. That one had two questions. As I listened to the questions, and the answer, I think that on this occasion I can conclude that the Minister addressed the second question, probably not the first. If the member wants to sharpen up his supplementary questions, I can try to help him.

💬 Dr David Clark: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The second question was dependent on the action in the first, so—

💬 Mr SPEAKER: No, the member is not listening. The member should not have a second question in the supplementary question. I let him do it, but then I advise members when they do that not to then complain if they do not get the answer they want.

💬 Dr David Clark: Does she agree with Dr Jeremy Skipworth, clinical director at Auckland’s Regional Forensic Psychiatric Services at Waitematā DHB, that the lack of access to step-down beds “creates a major gap in the continuum of care”, and that “The risks in this process have been exposed by a number of serious incidents at the point of transition”?

💬 Hon NICKY WAGNER: As I have said before, I have been advised by the chief adviser of ID(CC&R) that it is managing capacity with individualised solutions and 66 beds across the country. To date, they have been able to meet demand, but we are concerned about future pressures and we are working on a strategy to go forward.

💬 Dr David Clark: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I listened carefully, and I did not ask a second question that time. I asked if she agreed with the particular bit of advice, which was about the exposure through serious—

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have a way forward. I am going to allow the member on this occasion to ask the question again, but, in future, would he carefully look at Standing Order 380(1) and how he should then, in future, compose questions so that they are easily understood by the House and by the Minister. On this occasion I will let the member have one more go with that question.

💬 Dr David Clark: Does she agree with Dr Jeremy Skipworth, clinical director at Auckland’s Regional Forensic Psychiatric Services at the Waitamatā DHB, that the lack of access to step-down beds “creates a major gap in the continuum of care”, and that “The risks in this process have been exposed by a number of serious incidents at the point of transition”?

💬 Hon NICKY WAGNER: Every DHB manages its patients differently. But what I have been told by the chief adviser of ID(CC&R), to date, is that the number of beds across the country is meeting demand, although it is looking to pressure for the future and a new strategy.

💬 Dr David Clark: Does she agree with Steve Bain, acting general manager of mental health and addiction at Southern DHB, that “their ward environment is not purpose-built and increasingly unsuitable, given the changing patient mix contributing to increased difficulty managing patient aggression on the ward”?

💬 Hon NICKY WAGNER: All DHBs have a different way of managing their patients. It is interesting that Southern DHB is getting a new hospital in Dunedin. We know that there is pressure over these areas, and we know that the 66 beds across the country can manage that demand to date. However, we are concerned and monitoring demand, and looking to a new strategy to manage that.

💬 Dr David Clark: Does she agree with Dr Peri Renison, the chief of psychiatry at Canterbury DHB, that “it appears we are in the midst of a national system failure”?

💬 Hon NICKY WAGNER: I do not think there is a national system failure. I have been advised by the ministry that it continues to meet regularly with each of its district health boards to ensure that the issues relating to the resource constraints are managed effectively. The ministry is currently doing work on its budgets for 2017-18, and the regional intellectual disability secure services are included in this work.

Pacific Peoples—Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme

7. to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: How is the Government supporting Pacific labour mobility?

On Tuesday, the eve of the 10th anniversary of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, the Minister of Immigration and I announced a $10 million new funding expansion for the Pacific labour mobility scheme. This, along with $5 million of funding for the training of Pacific workers in New Zealand, was announced as part of the PACER-Plus trade deal, and delivers $15 million over the next 5 years to help New Zealand businesses while improving the lives of people in the Pacific and strengthening Pacific economies. The RSE scheme has been a huge success for New Zealand business, tens of thousands of Pacific Islanders, and the countries they travel from each year.

💬 Todd Muller: How successful has the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme been?

💬 Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: Since the scheme’s inception, 60,000 visas have been issued to Pacific workers who have taken up seasonal employment in New Zealand’s orchards and vineyards. These jobs improve standards and productivity in New Zealand. They also generate $40 million in remittances back to the Island countries. I have recently visited Fiji and Tonga, where I learnt firsthand the appreciation of the scheme in those countries. Their New Zealand income has enabled them to build more resilient homes, send their children to school, and contribute to their own community development. Countries involved in the labour mobility scheme have seen household incomes and school attendance rise. There is increasing access to health services, reduced unemployment, and, overall, less reliance on foreign aid.

💬 Todd Muller: What changes to the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme are being explored?

💬 Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: The Government has approved $10 million over an initial 5-year period to explore labour mobility opportunities in new sectors where there is continued high demand for workers. In particular, the Government will be exploring employment opportunities for Pacific women and developing prospects in semi-skilled higher-income occupations. The programme will continue to support growth in existing sectors, and will develop labour mobility opportunities in new sectors, such as construction, fisheries, and tourism. It is designed to be flexible, to respond to new opportunities in our dynamic labour market. We have already commenced a pilot programme for Pacific carpenters who are currently working on the Canterbury rebuild. We are confident that hard-working Pacific people will be in high demand from employers across the new sectors.

Drugs, Policy—Law Reform and Enforcement

8. to the Prime Minister: Why did he say that prisons are a “moral and fiscal failure”?

on behalf of the Prime Minister: Because that is his view.

💬 Julie Anne Genter: Given that view, will his Government implement the proposal released yesterday by the New Zealand Drug Foundation, including the recommendations of the 2011 Law Commission report Controlling and Regulating Drugs, so we can stop incarcerating people for minor drug offences?

No, because it is simply not true that our jails are overflowing with drug offenders. The vast majority of people in prison for drug offences are manufacturers or distributors.

💬 Julie Anne Genter: Given that we spent $268 million in 2014-15 on enforcing our drug laws and only $78 million—a tiny fraction of that—on drug addiction - related health interventions, does he agree that there is an opportunity to help people with their additions rather than locking them up?

There are two parts to that. The first part is that, actually, most of that money is being spent on clan-labs and those who are actually manufacturing and distributing things like P. So that is what that money is being spent on. But on the educational side, I am for that. I think that we can do more on the educational side of making sure that New Zealanders know the effects of addiction and how we can actually help them get off it.

💬 Julie Anne Genter: I seek leave to table data that I received from the New Zealand Drug Foundation that shows that more money is spent for cannabis-related offences than for P.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that information. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There is not.

Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.

💬 Julie Anne Genter: Will he take an evidence-based approach to regulating the personal use of cannabis, as experts at the Drug Foundation symposium have been urging here in Parliament all this week?

My beliefs are that I do not believe in the liberalisation of cannabis.

💬 Julie Anne Genter: Given that the evidence is all there that it will save us money, it will help people, it will reduce harm, and the New Zealand public supports it, why will this Government not listen to the evidence and finally modernise our drug laws?

Because there is a mix of evidence and we are quite clear on where we stand on it.

Housing, Auckland—Supply and Government Measures to Address

9. to the Minister for Building and Construction: Does he agree with the Auckland Council chief economist that an Auckland housing shortfall of almost 50,000 by 2023 is a conservative estimate?

I have seen all sorts of estimates of the housing shortfall, ranging from as low as 15,000 to as high, from Shamubeel Eaqub, as 500,000 nationwide. The numbers depend dramatically on assumptions about population growth, household size, and the new home build rate. My focus has been on a policy to grow new home construction, which has increased over the last 5 years in Auckland from 3,000 homes per year to now over 10,000 homes per year.

💬 Phil Twyford: Is it not true that Auckland Council’s estimated shortfall could, in fact, be much bigger than 50,000, given that it assumes population growth that is only half the current rate and a build rate of 11,000 a year, when Statistics New Zealand said today that only 8,642 homes were completed in the last 12 months?

💬 Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The member should be apologising for his misrepresentation of the issues around building consenting. He claimed that the number of homes being built was 30 percent less than the number that was being consented. The report out today from Statistics New Zealand says that that number might be 2 or 3 percent—not 30. This is as big an embarrassment as the debacle over Chinese-sounding names.

💬 Phil Twyford: Can he confirm that under the last Labour Government 77,596 homes were built in Auckland but under this National Government only 43,000 homes have been built in Auckland; does he still call that “the biggest building boom that the country has ever seen”?

💬 Mr SPEAKER: There are two questions there—the Hon Dr Nick Smith.

💬 Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I am very happy for the House to look at the comparison. In every one of Labour’s last 6 years in office, the number of homes being built dropped—it dropped from 10,000 a year to just 3,000 a year. In every one of the last 6 years, the number of homes being built in Auckland has grown. In fact, the last 6 years is the longest and strongest building boom in Auckland’s history.

💬 Phil Twyford: Is 77,000 more or less than 43,000?

💬 Hon Dr NICK SMITH: It is true that when Labour first came into Government in 1999 we were building a large number of houses. Then, as Labour’s policies came into effect, like the metropolitan urban limit, it completely strangled new home construction. The building rate dropped every year from 2004 to the lowest level in more than 50 years when we became the Government. That number has gone up from 3,000 a year to over 10,000 a year under this Government.

💬 Phil Twyford: When fewer than 2,000 homes have been built in his Auckland special housing areas in the 3 years since he announced that policy, and the shortfall of 35,000 homes built up on his watch is predicted to blow out to 50,000 in the next few years, is that not the definition of failure?

💬 Hon Dr NICK SMITH: There are 4,800 homes that have been consented in special housing areas in Auckland, and 2,500—2,500—of those have been completed. Right now, a third of the new homes being built in Auckland are in special housing areas. That is, if we did not have special housing areas, there would be 3,000 fewer homes per year being built in Auckland. So I say that has helped grow supply. [Interruption]

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Order! Question No. 10, Alastair Scott—[Interruption] Order! [Interruption] Order! Can I say to Mr Brownlee and Mr Twyford: if they want to go and have a chat, do it over a cup of coffee in the lounge.

Meat Industry—Chilled Meat Exports to China

10. to the Minister for Primary Industries: How is the Government supporting red meat farmers to extract better value out of their produce?

Last Friday at Auckland Airport I celebrated the first consignments of chilled red meat leave for China as a result of a successful 6-month trial negotiated by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Chilled meat is worth around twice the value of frozen meat, and this is great news for our processors and farmers. These first shipments were air freighted, and utilise new air links established between our countries on the back of significant tourism growth.

💬 Alastair Scott: How is the Government supporting red meat farmers to create more value inside the farm gate?

💬 Hon NATHAN GUY: I have just given one example of that in the answer to the primary question. Of course the Government is partnering with the red meat industry to develop and select sheep that also thrive in hill country and are higher in healthier and tastier fats. Te Mana Lamb was launched by the Prime Minister recently in Hong Kong, and it is on the menu in top restaurants here in New Zealand. The programme is part of the Government’s Primary Growth Partnership. This Government is co-investing $25 million into this initiative, and it has already received very positive reviews.

💬 Richard Prosser: If Chinese chilled meat exports only started after Silver Fern Farms fell into Chinese control, and red meat exports in the year to May 2017 are down 9.3 percent—or $616 million—can farmers summarise National’s plan as “We’re not retreating; we’re just advancing in a different direction.”?

💬 Hon NATHAN GUY: No, they cannot. I know that New Zealand First has a very protectionist policy and is afraid of New Zealand actually reaching out to international countries that we actually welcome investing here. What the member should be aware of is that 10 plants have been listed for export of chilled meat into China, not just Silver Fern Farms.

Community Trust of Southland, Trustees—Potential Conflicts of Interest and Investigation

11. to the Associate Minister of Finance: Does she have confidence in the trustees of the Community Trust of Southland?

While I am aware of concerns that have been raised, the advice I have had is that based on the information received to date and my limited role under the Community Trusts Act, no formal action by me is appropriate at this time and, accordingly, the question of confidence does not arise.

💬 Grant Robertson: Why has she refused to launch an investigation into the Community Trust of Southland despite being formally asked to do so by two former chairs of the trust, three former deputy chairs of the trust, and four former members of the trust who represent a period covering 1988 to 2015 in their membership?

💬 Hon AMY ADAMS: First of all, I would point out that I have not refused. I have said the information provided to date does not reach the threshold that would be required. Secondly, I would point out to the member that under the Community Trusts Act I have very limited responsibilities, which focus on the appointment of trustees, decisions on adjustments to trust areas, trust mergers, and the establishment of new trusts.

💬 Grant Robertson: What has she done to verify the allegations made in the letter to her of an irregular process in the exit of the chief executive and potential conflicts of interest from the trustees?

💬 Hon AMY ADAMS: I would repeat what I said in the previous answer about my very limited role under the Community Trusts Act. What I would say to the member is that I have received advice from the administering agency, which is the Department of Internal Affairs, which has advised me that I follow the process that I have followed, which is to indicate that at this time the information provided does not establish any grounds for an investigation. What was discussed was essentially an employment issue and for me to be involved in that, according to the advice I have had, would not be appropriate.

💬 Grant Robertson: Would she change her decision about an investigation if it were established that the departure of the chief executive came about as a result of a letter from the chair of the trust stating that the trustees had made a decision that the chief executive should resign even though no formal decision was taken to do that?

💬 Hon AMY ADAMS: The advice that my officials have given me is that the threshold for mounting an investigation would be specific allegations in bases relating to governance failures, financial mismanagement, or illegal activities. What I have done is written to the trust’s chair and made it very clear that my expectations are that the trust is managed appropriately, in accordance with good governance standards, and I have written to the complainants and asked them to give me any further advice that they want to bring to my attention, and I have said that I would be very happy to consider that.

💬 Grant Robertson: Has she or anyone from her office discussed the specific allegations in the letter from the former trustees with the current chair of the trust or any other trustees?

💬 Hon AMY ADAMS: I just said in my previous answer that I have written to the current chair of the trust and made it very clear that I have received that letter and that I expect the trust to be managed to the highest standards of governance and professionalism, and I set out my expectations to her very clearly.

💬 Grant Robertson: Is the reason she has decided not to investigate the trust that those who have driven the chief executive officer out have close links to the National Party, and that the chair of the trust is also the chair of the Clutha-Southland branch of the National Party?

💬 Mr SPEAKER: In so far as there is ministerial responsibility—the Hon Amy Adams.

💬 Hon AMY ADAMS: I completely refute that. The basis for my decision is exactly as I have set out, which is on the basis of the advice I have received from my officials and my very limited role under the Community Trusts Act.

Budget 2017—Auckland Schools, Capacity

12. to the Associate Minister of Education: What recent announcements has he made following Budget 2017 in regards to increasing capacity at Auckland schools?

Recently, the Hon Nikki Kaye and I were pleased to announce that in the first tranche of roll growth funding from Budget 2017, eight Auckland schools will receive a combined $21 million to build 41 classrooms. This will see 34 new classrooms to increase capacity by around 680 student places and seven replacement classrooms. I am very pleased to inform both Dr Parmar and Mr Wood that Dominion Road School in the Mt Roskill electorate is set to receive $2 million to fund four new classrooms.

💬 Grant Robertson: I apologise. I meant to do this at the end of my question. I seek leave of the House to table a letter written on 29 May 2017 by nine former trustees of the Community Trust of Southland to Amy Adams, urging an urgent investigation into happenings at the trust.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that particular letter. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.

Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.

💬 Simon O’Connor: How will this investment benefit Auckland schools and their pupils?

💬 Hon TIM MACINDOE: The eight Auckland schools receiving new and replacement classrooms include two in the Tāmaki electorate, represented by Simon O’Connor. These are Meadowbank School, which will be getting four new classrooms, and St Thomas School, which will be getting nine classrooms, five of which will be new and four being replacement classrooms. This also follows our announcement a few weeks ago that Stonefield School, also in the member’s electorate, will receive funding for expansion. Pupils from Beachlands School, Bairds Mainfreight Primary School, Rowandale School, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kotuku, and Onehunga Primary School will also benefit from new modern classrooms to help them to learn and achieve to the best of their ability. The good news is that this is just tranche one of roll growth funding announcements for Auckland, and we still have two more tranches to come.