Oral Questions

1. to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development: Does he believe that the residential property market, as currently regulated, leads to excessive profits for landlords?

Although steep rent rises have hurt low-income renters in many cases in recent years, in general I do not believe that the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 leads to excessive profits for landlords. I do, however, consider that the Act does not strike the right balance between landlords and tenants. That’s why we’ve announced proposals to strike a new balance between providing tenants with more secure tenure and allowing them to make their house a home, while protecting the rights and interests of landlords.

💬 David Seymour: If landlords are not making excessive profits, then who will pay the costs of the new standards the Minister intends to regulate for the upkeep of rented homes?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well, I would expect that the cost of meeting the new standards, like those that are set out in the draft standards for the Healthy Homes Guarantee Act—like, for instance, putting in a heat pump or some insulation or draught-stopping or drainage—will be dealt with in exactly the same way as landlords do currently, as when the house needs painting or the roof needs replacing or the piles need fixing.

💬 David Seymour: So is the Minister saying that landlords are not making excessive profit, tenants are hurt by steep rent increases, and, now, new costs will be put into the renting of property and that will somehow be paid for by magic?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: No, that’s not at all what I said. I said that in some cases, in some regional housing markets, low-income renters have been hurt in recent years by rising rents, primarily caused by a lack of housing supply. But I would say that our Government is unapologetic about the fact that we are modernising the standards for rental properties, because in our view it’s long past time that this country was sending 40,000 kids to hospital every year with infectious diseases, mostly because they’re living in rental properties that are cold and damp.

💬 David Seymour: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question was tight and asked who will pay the cost of improvements to homes. I don’t believe the Minister even tried to address that basic kernel of who pays the cost.

💬 SPEAKER: I think he did.

💬 Paul Eagle: What changes is the Government proposing to how the residential property market is regulated?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Our tenancy laws are antiquated. They don’t reflect the fact that renting is now a long-term reality for many, many families. The Government is proposing changes that will strike a fairer balance between providing tenants with security of tenure and allowing them to make their house a home while protecting the rights and interests of landlords. We know that the vast majority of landlords take good care of their properties and treat their tenants fairly. Those people will see no real change from the Government’s reforms. However, the current law is so weak that it permits a small number of exploitative people to rent out unhealthy, dangerous houses and charge exorbitant rents. Our reforms will clean up the rental market, and that’s good for the vast majority of landlords and their tenants.

Prime Minister—Refugee Quota, Starting-out Wages, and Employment Relations Amendment Bill

2. to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government’s statements and actions?

Kia ora koutou e Te Whare. Yes.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Is it her Government’s policy to increase the refugee quota to 1,500 or is that simply a “personal commitment” of Iain Lees-Galloway, as she described it?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I’ve described to this House many, many times before, the policies of this coalition Government are contained in the confidence and supply agreement, the coalition document, and the Speech from the Throne. All other policies go through a Cabinet process.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: So is it her Government’s policy to increase the refugee quota of 1,500 or is that simply a personal commitment of Iain Lees-Galloway?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I’ve said many times before, all policies of this Government are contained in the confidence and supply agreement, the coalition document, the Speech from the Throne. All other policies go through a Cabinet process.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Will the Government abolish starting-out wages by October 2018?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: A third time. Look, it’s clear that we have established policy between this coalition Government that’s set out in the public domain. Everything else goes through a Cabinet process. Now, I know the member continues to be jealous that he is not on this side of the House in the position to make the changes that this Government has made, and that we have achieved in one year more than that Government achieved in nine, but we stick to a process.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: So when Iain Lees-Galloway said in December in a ministerial press statement that the Government will abolish starting-out wages by October 2018, was that just a personal commitment?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again, every policy we go through goes through a process. Now, the member on that side of the House seems to refuse to accept that it is possible to have three different parties with three different views, who are still able to increase wages for New Zealanders; deliver benefits for low-income families to the tune of, on average, $75 a week; make substantial changes in investment into transport in our regions; make $1 billion worth of investment into our regions—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! I do want to warn the Prime Minister that when I stand and call for order, she sits.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Can we no longer believe ministerial press statements unless they’re signed off by Mr Peters?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No—ridiculous.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does she stand by her Government’s policy to create multi-employer collective agreements (MECAs), which has been through Cabinet, and would, for example, force a business in Timaru to have the same pay rates as one in Auckland, or is that another of Iain Lees-Galloway’s personal commitments?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Actually, the member is demonstrating a lack of knowledge around the policy that’s in that bill. It is possible, as that legislation stands, for variable rates to be included in MECAs. So the member clearly does not understand the bill.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does Iain Lees-Galloway’s Employment Relations Amendment Bill, which has been through Cabinet, have the full support of all parties in the coalition, or is that another personal commitment by the Minister?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If I could reference a quote made by the Deputy Prime Minister when a journalist speculated in this regard—his response was they’d been interviewing their typewriter.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Was the Deputy Prime Minister correct yesterday when he stated that the Employment Relations Amendment Bill was a “work in progress”, and, if so, what changes to the bill is her Government considering?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I have outlined many, many times before, we utilise the Cabinet process to agree everything that this Government declares and puts before this House.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: It’s a simple question: are changes afoot to the Employment Relations Amendment Bill?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: My response is that Cabinet determines any changes to legislation.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Is the reality that she’s confused about the progress of Iain Lees-Galloway’s bill, when Winston Peters says employment law changes are a “work in progress” and Clayton Mitchell says New Zealand First are proud to be supporting the bill?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The only one that’s confused is the member asking the question.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does anything Iain Lees-Galloway say have the support of the Government, or has he simply gone rogue?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: We support the Minister in his work fully.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: I’ll go to the real Prime Minister tomorrow.

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Order! If the member wants to ask another question, he stands up.

Fiscal Strategy—Settings and Framework

3. to the Minister of Finance: What actions, if any, has he taken to enhance New Zealand’s fiscal settings and framework?

Today, I announced our plan to update and enhance a key part of the Government’s financial framework. In particular, this means embedding a well-being focus into the Public Finance Act. The proposed changes would require New Zealand Governments to set out well-being objectives alongside fiscal objectives that will guide budget decisions, and would also require Treasury to report on the well-being indicators, alongside traditional economic and fiscal indicators. Thirty years on from the establishment of both the State Sector Act and the Public Finance Act, it is past time for us to modernise these pieces of legislation to reflect not just fiscal accountability, but also ensure that the Government takes an approach that takes into account the overall well-being of all New Zealanders.

💬 Dr Duncan Webb: What other actions has the Government taken to enhance New Zealand’s fiscal settings?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Today, we have also released more details on the Government’s planned independent fiscal institution as foreshadowed at Budget time. This institution would monitor the Government’s adherence to its Budget responsibility rules and provide political parties with the opportunity for independent costings of their policies. This type of institution is common across the world, including in 26 OECD countries. It would add to the quality of debate in New Zealand by providing an independent, authoritative voice on matters that affect public finances.

💬 Dr Duncan Webb: Why are these changes necessary?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The primary goal of this Government is to enhance the well-being and living standards of all New Zealanders. The changes we are proposing put this goal at the heart of how Governments make fiscal decisions whilst also strengthening a responsible approach to fiscal management as required under the Public Finance Act. These changes are part of the Government’s wider modernisation of our institutional framework, including reforms of the State Sector Act and the Reserve Bank, and these will ensure our economy and its systems are fit for purpose for the 21st century.

Economy—Growth and Costs for Businesses

4. to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by all of the Government’s statements and actions in relation to the New Zealand economy?

Āe, in the context in which they were made and undertaken.

💬 Hon Amy Adams: Does he stand by his answer in the House yesterday, when asked about the economy now being forecast to be $2.2 billion smaller than projected in the Budget, that “The economy is still growing”, and does that mean he’s not concerned about the missed opportunities that lower growth represents for New Zealanders?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I am always looking for opportunities to increase sustainable growth in New Zealand. But I cannot put it better than how Craig Hudson, the managing director of Xero, put it today when he said, “Truckometer and consumer spending numbers are out and both look good. It’s time to stop focussing on business sentiment surveys and focus on real data. Xero’s July numbers show cash flow is better and employment numbers are up.” On this side of the House, we’re focused on real data.

💬 Hon Amy Adams: Does he not understand that even if the economy is still growing, if it’s growing more slowly than it should be, that means fewer opportunities for New Zealanders?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: We need sustainable and productive economic growth. The member well knows that the trend around GDP began declining at the beginning of 2017.

💬 Hon Amy Adams: So we just need growth, Grant.

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well, the member says we just need growth. That was the problem of the last nine years—that that Government thought having growth rates of 3.5 percent but the world’s worst homelessness was OK. We don’t think that on this side of the House.

💬 Hon Amy Adams: So when he says he doesn’t want to have an economy that’s reliant on population growth, was he aware that GDP per person, which of course removes the population growth component, averaged more than 1.6 percent a year under the previous Government but actually declined in the last quarter?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The member will need to look at the last few years of the previous Government to see where the trend began on that. But I repeat: if we continued with the previous Government’s approach of relying on population growth, relying on an overheated housing market, then we won’t have the standard of living we need for New Zealanders into the middle part of the 21st century. There are two options here: drift along like the previous Government did or actually do something about making sure our economy is fit for purpose. We’re getting on with the latter.

💬 Hon Amy Adams: Is he aware that costs for businesses as measured by the producer price index (PPI) have gone up 3.4 percent a year under this Government compared to just 1.2 percent per annum under the previous Government; and, if so, is he concerned that those higher costs are going to be passed on as a higher cost of living for New Zealanders?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: It’s true that in the June 2018 quarter, producer input prices were up 1 percent, which is similar to the rise in output prices of 0.9 percent in the same quarter—

💬 Hon Amy Adams: It’s not what we’re talking about. Look at the PPI.

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: No, but that’s exactly what the PPI is. This compares to an increase of 1.5 percent in import prices in the June quarter last year, when output prices rose 1.3 percent.

💬 Hon Amy Adams: So is it fair to say, then, that when he talks about transitioning the New Zealand economy, he’s really talking about transitioning us to lower growth, higher costs, and lowered standard of living?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: No, what it means is that I’m talking about a transition to an economy where we actually invest in 21st century transport systems, where we make sure that the people in our regions of New Zealand get a fair go, where we see wages lift, and we have a reason for New Zealanders to stay here in this country. The last Government decided that they were going to ignore all of those forward-looking things. We’re not, and I really do encourage the member to listen to what Craig Hudson had to say. In businesses around New Zealand they understand—they understand—that there is a good environment now to do business and employ people. The member should get alongside them.

KiwiBuild—Mount Roskill Development

5. to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development: Does he agree with all the reported statements of his Government on KiwiBuild?

I stand by such statements, if correctly reported and in their context, including the statement from the Prime Minister that she is proud to lead a Government that is making housing more affordable.

💬 Hon Judith Collins: Was the Mount Roskill development that he announced on Saturday the same project that started under National in October 2016, or is this a different project now because it’s been rebranded KiwiBuild?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: It’s a different project because it’s got a light rail line running right through the middle of the community, and not only has this Government committed to building 10,000 new houses, but 2,400 of them are going to be affordable KiwiBuild houses for young families to live in.

💬 Hon Judith Collins: Is $2 billion of capital allocation in Budget 2018 likely to be sufficient to “deliver 100,000 quality, affordable homes throughout New Zealand within a decade.”, or does he anticipate that more money will needed from future Budgets?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: The answer’s yes, to the first part of the question.

💬 Hon Judith Collins: Oh, so it will be sufficient—OK. Are the KiwiBuild projects that have been announced so far likely to deliver a profit to the Crown to be reinvested in future projects?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well, the KiwiBuild homes that are going to be built in these large projects will be supported through the $2 billion recycling fund, but, actually, those large projects in general are expected to wash their face—that is, they are expected to break even over time.

💬 Hon Judith Collins: Does he, then, agree with HLC—formerly Hobsonville Land Company—chief executive Chris Aiken, who said the cost of the Mount Roskill redevelopment project alone would be $4 billion, and that net cost “zeroes off to a break-even position”?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I agree with Chris Aiken. He’s an excellent, excellent public servant, and he’s right; that development will break even.

💬 Hon Judith Collins: Is it correct that if KiwiBuild projects only break even, in order to deliver 100,000 homes with a budget of $2 billion, money will have to be recycled through the fund once every three months, and is this likely to occur?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Over the 10-year period, a high level of recycling of that fund will take place. We’re talking about investing and redeveloping an asset base that is worth billions of dollars. I know that the members opposite don’t think it’s possible to build affordable homes for New Zealanders. They don’t think it’s possible to build whole new communities, which is what we used to do in this country routinely a generation ago. It’s a shame that for nine years, they had so little ambition. That’s the reason we got into the housing crisis in the first place.

KiwiBuild—Targets and Mount Roskill Development

6. to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development: What progress, if any, has been made towards the Government’s KiwiBuild homes targets?

Well, it’s more good news from the Government. On Sunday, the Government announced another large-scale development—a transformational project to build 10,000 new homes for families in Mount Roskill. This development will include more than 2,400 modest, affordable KiwiBuild homes for first-home buyers, around 3,000 homes to be sold on the market, and more than 3,000 new warm, dry State houses. Building in Mount Roskill South has started already. In stage one, 80 new State homes will be built, with the first ready to move into by next year. Stage two will begin mid-next year and will see 90 worn out old State houses replaced with around 300 new homes, including 95—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Order! Thank you.

💬 Michael Wood: How will the Government ensure that local residents are able to rent or buy homes in the completed Mount Roskill development?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I’m determined that the local community benefits from this redevelopment and are not simply priced out of the new homes. HLC are working to keep the prices of KiwiBuild homes as low as possible, and we’re working on long-term rent and shared-equity options. For KiwiBuild, we will be using priority ballots to ensure that local residents in Roskill have the first shot at owning their own home in their own community.

💬 Michael Wood: How does the Mount Roskill development fit within the Government’s plans for large-scale urban development?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well, this Mount Roskill development is the second fully integrated transport and housing development. HLC and the KiwiBuild unit are working closely with the New Zealand Transport Agency - led light rail project, to ensure that they are both fully integrated. Integrating transport and housing is how we invest in the infrastructure needed to get ahead of the growth. The Mount Roskill development joins Unitech, Northcote, and Māngere as initial large-scale developments, where this Government is building starter homes for young Kiwi families.

💬 Michael Wood: What progress is being made on the Government’s immediate target of 1,000 KiwiBuild homes in 2018-19?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well, on Monday, the Prime Minister also announced that the ballot had opened for the first 18 KiwiBuild homes at McLennan, and our Government is opening the door to families locked out of homeownership by building affordable starter homes where the market has failed. Another 12 properties are already under construction, and a further 58 of mainly three-bedroom homes will be built at McLennan. In the coming weeks, I’ll be announcing more KiwiBuild projects, and tomorrow our Government will be announcing the first homes to be built through the Buying off the Plans initiative.

Business Partnership Agenda—Minimum Wage Increase and Provincial Growth Fund

7. to the Minister of Finance: What components of the Business Partnership Agenda are designed to increase productivity and improve our economy’s international competitiveness?

All of them.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: How will increasing the minimum wage by 27 percent in the next three years increase our international competitiveness?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: More productive businesses and more productive workers will improve our international competitiveness.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: So what is the process that leads to an increase in the minimum wage automatically leading to higher productivity?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I wouldn’t say it’s automatic, but making sure that we lift the wages that New Zealanders get will mean that, firstly, they’ll be spending more money in the economy, which we know that those on the minimum wage do. The member needs to get alongside the businesses in New Zealand who are involving themselves in things like high performance engagement programmes, which, actually, lift both—[Interruption] Well, I’m glad to see the members opposite laughing at some of our largest companies improving their bottom line, improving the prospects of their workers, and lifting their wages. It’s possible to do all of them, Mr Goldsmith.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: What would he say to an exporter whose products require a lot of labour and who doesn’t believe he or she can remain in business while increasing their wages 27 percent?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: That is hypothetical. The exporters that I talk to are ambitious for New Zealand. They want to get alongside the Government with our plan to lift investment in research and development, to build the infrastructure that will support them, and to get the free-trade deals that those exporters want. I think the member needs to be more optimistic about our exporters’ prospects.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: Is he concerned that the Provincial Growth Fund, which he hopes will be a driver in productivity, has so far devoted less than 1.5 percent of its funds to the entire South Island, and, if so, is it fair to conclude that the Government is not focused on South Island productivity?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Absolutely not. As somebody who grew up in South Dunedin, I can tell you that this Government has got a laser-like focus on all of the regions of New Zealand. And, indeed, Mr Shane Jones, the provincial champion, has been touring both the North and the South Island to some acclaim all over the provinces of New Zealand, and I have great confidence in him that we will see the fruits of the Provincial Growth Fund spread widely—I hesitate to use the word “seed”; the fruits, anyway—across the sector.

Digital Services—Appointment Process for Chief Technology Officer

8. to the Minister of State Services: Has the process for appointing the Government’s Chief Technology Officer been consistent with the commitment “to be the most open, most transparent Government that New Zealand has ever had”?

No.

💬 Hon Dr Nick Smith: Was Derek Handley offered the appointment?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I don’t believe it’s in the interests of natural justice or the public interest to comment on the process while it is still a live process.

💬 Hon Dr Nick Smith: Was the successful candidate for the Government’s chief technical officer advised at or around 14 August, in light of his answer to written question No. 17144 that unsuccessful candidates were advised on that date?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: As I indicated in my previous supplementary answer, while it is a live process, I don’t believe it is in the interests of natural justice or the public interest to comment further.

💬 Hon Dr Nick Smith: Are there further undisclosed emails through former Minister Clare Curran’s private Gmail account in respect of the appointment of the Government’s Chief Technology Officer?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: My understanding is that all of Clare Curran’s Gmails that relate to this issue are being archived—handed over for archiving—so they are part of the public record. Therefore, they are subject to the Official Information Act, and, therefore, they will be fully captured and disclosed, if required, under the relevant processes.

💬 Hon Dr Nick Smith: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question was a very direct one: are there further emails that were not disclosed of by Clare Curran in respect of the appointment of the Government’s chief technical officer? The Minister did not address that.

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I’m happy to address it—

💬 SPEAKER: Speaking to the point of order—

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I’m happy to address it further, Mr Speaker.

💬 SPEAKER: Well, the member can.

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I think it was inherent in my answer that in the archiving process, of course, any further emails to those already disclosed will be identified.

💬 Hon Dr Nick Smith: Has the Minister directly asked former Minister Clare Curran whether there are further undisclosed emails through her private Gmail account in regard to the appointment of the Government’s Chief Technology Officer?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I’ve not personally had that conversation, but I do understand that conversation has been held within the Government.

💬 Hon Dr Nick Smith: Who has specifically had the discussion with former Minister Clare Curran on what private emails exist in respect of the appointment of the Government’s Chief Technology Officer?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I think it’s been held relatively publicly, but I also understand that the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister’s office have had conversations along those lines with Clare Curran.

💬 Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does the Minister accept that the process of appointment has been so tainted, by the secret emails and meetings by the former Minister and with the comments from the industry, that the appointment is now so tainted that it cannot have credibility and that the Government needs to start the appointment process all over again and try to get it right third time round?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Consistent with my earlier supplementary question answers, I don’t believe it’s in the public interest to comment on that matter while there is a live process.

Education—Learning Support and Direct Access Pathway

9. to the Associate Minister of Education: What actions, if any, has the Government taken to provide more options for children and young people with complex and challenging learning-support needs and their families?

💬 Hon Tracey Martin: Mr Speaker.

💬 SPEAKER: The Hon Tracey—

💬 Hon Tracey Martin: Martin.

💬 SPEAKER: Martin—sorry.

Kia ora, thank you.

💬 SPEAKER: I was going to call you Tracey Nelson. I don’t know why.

It’s all right. Other speakers have called me other things too.

💬 SPEAKER: Yes, so have I.

On 23 August, the Minister of Education and I announced a new direct access pathway for students with complex learning-support needs to attend residential schools. This will mean that more children and young people will be able to enrol in Government-funded places at our three residential special schools: Halswell, Salisbury, and Westbridge. We are delivering on a commitment to ensure that our young people can access the support they believe provides the best option to participate in and progress their learning.

💬 Jamie Strange: How does the new direct access pathway make it easier for children and young people to apply to enrol in residential schools?

Previously, access to a residential special school was via the Intensive Wraparound Service. The direct access pathway will allow children and young people to be assessed by independent regional panels—as they are for the Intensive Wraparound Service—to enrol at the school without having to be accepted into the Intensive Wraparound Service first. Families are able to put in their enrolment applications now, with the new pathway commencing in term 4. Residential schools and parents have been asking for some years to establish another enrolment pathway for young people with complex needs to go into residential schools. We made this commitment, and we are pleased to have been able to deliver on it.

Prime Minister—Contact with Minister of Government Digital Services and Minister of Customs

10. to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her statements and actions?

Tēnā koutou e Te Whare. Yes.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: Has the Prime Minister asked Clare Curran whether there are more emails between her and Derek Handley?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I believe I advised yesterday, I have had the assurance from Minister Curran’s office that she will be ensuring that all relevant correspondence across all forums are appropriately archived. Those will then be able to be accessed.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: Has the Prime Minister had any conversations, emails, or texts with Derek Handley?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I have in the past had correspondence with Mr Handley. It’s on the public record that I’ve known him for a number of years.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: Will the Prime Minister publicly disclose those conversations, emails, or texts?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I am subject to the Official Information Act, as everyone else in this House is.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: When Meka Whaitiri told her she did not assault her staff member, did she believe her?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I said in the House yesterday, this is a contested allegation. That is why it’s being investigated by Ministerial Services.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: Can her Ministers have confidence in her to take them at their word and not question whether they are telling the truth and then get Ministerial Services to investigate them?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I have advised this House recently, when I contacted Minister Whaitiri, she wanted this process to be transparent and open. She has been fully cooperating, and Ministerial Services, as is rightly so, is undertaking an investigation in a transparent way.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: When she said in the House yesterday that “no personal grievances have been lodged against Meka Whaitiri since becoming a Minister.”, is she aware of any other staffing issues in Meka Whaitiri’s office where Ministerial Services have been involved?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I advised what my office had been advised in relation to personal grievances. We are otherwise investigating this specific allegation via Ministerial Services.

💬 SPEAKER: Question No. 11—Jonathan Young—

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Shifty.

Energy Market—Electricity Pricing

My question is to the Minister of—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition will stand, withdraw, and apologise.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: I withdraw and apologise.

11. to the Minister of Energy and Resources: Does she stand by all her statements and actions?

Yes.

💬 Jonathan Young: After saying New Zealanders deserve affordable electricity, will she guarantee that electricity price rises will be lower in the next three years than they have been in the last three years?

💬 Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: This Government was proud yesterday to release the first phase of a report in a two-part process. This outlined the issues that we have to deal with, and that identified in the report that we have a two-tier electricity market developing in this country. I note that the member who asked the question doesn’t think there’s anything wrong, but on this side of the House, when we think there are 103,000 households who are defined as being in energy hardship, we do see there is a problem. That is why phase two of the process will be examining those remedies.

💬 SPEAKER: Question No. 12—[Interruption] No, the Opposition’s supplementaries have been used—

💬 Jonathan Young: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I don’t think that the question was addressed and answered.

💬 SPEAKER: Ask it again.

💬 Jonathan Young: Will she guarantee that electricity price rises will be lower in the next three years than they have been in the last three years?

💬 Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: As I have previously answered the member, what was released yesterday was phase one of a two-part review that we are doing on electricity prices. That member does not think it is a problem that 103,000 households are defined as being in energy hardship. This is a Government that does see that as a problem. We are embarking on phase two. We will be looking for remedies. What I can guarantee that member is we will not bury our heads in the sand and think that there isn’t a problem.

💬 SPEAKER: That was a very good answer for a different question. The member will have another crack.

💬 Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Phase two of the report will be looking at remedies. What I can guarantee that member is that this is a Government that is committed to seeing those 103,000 households who are in energy hardship offered some release. We will be looking for remedies, and in terms of guarantees, I invite that member to submit his ideas into phase two of the review.

💬 Jonathan Young: Thank you. Does she agree with the Electricity Price Review chair’s comments yesterday that the sharing of costs may need to be reallocated, and if so, how should they be reallocated?

💬 Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: I again point the member to the fact that this is phase one of a two-part review. I absolutely agree with the chair of the Electricity Price Review, Miriam Dean, who has done a wonderful job and produced a very accessible document, that these are questions that we need to think about. What we have seen since the 1990s is a 79 percent increase in electricity prices for households. That has not been matched by business or industry, and that is a conversation that we need to have from here.

Education—Support for Te Reo Māori in Schools

12. to the Associate Minister of Education (Māori Education): He aha ngā hīkoitanga e takahia ana e ia ki te whakatairanga i Te Reo i roto i ngā kura, ā, me te neke whakamua atu i te wāteatanga whānui o Te Reo i ngā kōeke tau katoa?

[What steps is he taking to promote the Māori language in schools and move forward the universal availability of it at all year levels?]

Kua whakatakotohia e Te Kāwanatanga tōna whāinga matua kia whakaurua Te Reo Māori ki roto i ngā akoranga kōhungahunga me ngā kura tae atu ki te tau 10 i mua i te paunga o te tau 2025; kia whai wāhi ai ngā tāngata katoa o Aotearoa ki te ako, ki te whakamahi, ki te kōrero i Te Reo Māori. Hei whakatūtuki i tēnei e, tuku āwhina mātau ki te rāngai whakaako mā te tautoko kaiako, mā te whakapiki haere i te mōhio me, te āhei o ngā kaiako ki Te Reo Māori, otirā, ki te ako anō hoki.

[The Government has set down its primary objective that the Māori language be included in courses for early childhood and schools right up to year 10 by the end of year 2025; that everyone in New Zealand participate in the learning, application, and speaking the Māori language. To fulfil this, we are providing assistance to schools and the educational sector by supporting teachers and increasing the understanding and ability of teachers to speak the Māori language but at the same time to teach it as well.]

💬 Marama Davidson: Ka whakaae a ia ki te whāinga, kia ako ngā tamariki katoa i ngā kura o Aotearoa i Te Reo Māori?

[Does he agree with the objective that all children in New Zealand schools learn the Māori language?]

💬 Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Āe, e tautoko ana ahau kia ako ngā tamariki katoa o Aotearoa i Te Reo Rangatira me, ngā kura puta noa i Te Motu. Ki te whakatutuki i tēnei whāinga, me tuku āwhina mātou ki ngā kura me, te rāngai whakaako, mā te tautoko i ngā kaiako, mā te whakapiki haere i te mōhio me te āhei o ngā kaiako ki Te Reo Māori, otirā, ki te ako anō hoki.

[Yes, I endorse that all New Zealand children and schools throughout the land learn the chiefly language, to fulfil this objective. We must provide assistance to schools and to the educational sector by supporting the teachers, by increasing the understanding and ability of teachers to speak Māori but at the same time, to teach it as well.]

💬 Marama Davidson: Ka tautoko a ia i te whakaaro kia whakatakoto hia he wāhi mō te ako i Te Reo hei kaupapa matua kāore rānei?

[Does he support the thought that a provision be set down for the language to be taught as a primary subject or not?]

💬 Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Kei Te Marautanga o Aotearoa kē Te Reo Māori e noho ana, ā, ko te tūmanako me poipoia kia tipu, kia ea ai, ā, kia pakari ai ngā kaiako, ngā kaimahi o ngā kura ki te whakamahi i Te Reo Māori ki ngā take me ngā karaihe katoa o te kura.

[The Māori language is sitting instead in the New Zealand Curriculum, and the hope was that it be nurtured so it grows and fulfilled so that teachers and staff of schools are sturdy in applying the Māori language to issues and all classes of the school.]

💬 Marama Davidson: Ka whakapikia rānei te rahinga o ngā karahipi hautūtanga i roto i ngā kaiako Reo Māori hou, ka whāia rānei he rahinga rite, he whakatairanga pai ake rānei i roto i ngā karahipi?

[Will the quantity of leadership scholarships in new Māori language teachers be increased or will a like quantity or a better promotion in the scholarships be pursued?]

💬 Hon KELVIN DAVIS: E mōhio ana tātou, me nui kē atu te nama o ngā kaiako Reo Māori i ngā kura Māori i ngā kura auraki hoki. I whakawhiwhia e tēnei Kāwanatanga i tērā tau tētahi hau mā rima o taua miriona taara me tētahi hau mā tekau mā rima i te tau nei, kia piki ai ngā tekiona kore kaiako, pērā i aua hunga e ako ana i Te Reo Māori ki ērā, i te Kura Māori. He takahitanga tuatahi ēnei ki te whakatutuki i ō tātou wawata, kia ako ai ngā tauira katoa i Te Reo Māori i ngā kura engari, me ahu whakamua Te Kāwanatanga nei ki te rapu hohenga mō tātou ki te mahi kia piki ake ai te nama o ngā tāngata e uru atu ana ki te umanga whakaakoranga, hei kaiako Reo Māori. Ā, he mahi e haere whakamua ana.

[We know that the number of Māori language teachers at Māori and also mainstream schools must be much more. This Government last year granted a fifth of that million dollars and a fifteenth this year to increase sections without teachers, like those teaching the Māori language to those at kura Māori. These are initial steps to achieve our aspirations so that all students learn Māori at schools, but this Government must move forward to seek out actions for us to perform to increase the number of people entering the teaching profession as Māori language teachers. It is a work in progress.]

💬 Marama Davidson: Ka oati a ia ki te whakatairanga, ki te tūtaki, ki te matapaki i tētahi wānanga Reo Māori mō taua hunga e pīrangi ana ki te mutu mai hei kaiako?

[Will he promise to promote and meet and discuss a Māori language forum for those who want to be teachers?]

💬 Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Ko tetahi o ngā mahi o Te Kāwanatanga nei, he whakatakoto rautaki rāngai whakaako, arā, te Education Workforce Strategy, ā, ko ētahi o ngā pātai e pātaingia anai, me aha tātou kia kaha ake ai ngā kura kaiako, kia whakapakari ai rātou i ō rātou Reo.

[One of the tasks of this Government is to set down a teaching strategy sector, namely, the Education Workforce Strategy, and some of the questions being posed relate to what can we do so that school teachers are more resolute and that they perfect their Māori language.]

💬 Marama Davidson: Ka pīrangi a ia ki te hara mai ki tō mātou hui taumata mō ngā mātanga mātauranga, ngā mema Māori hoki, kia matapakihia tonutia tēnei kaupapa, nau mai?

[Does he want to come to our summit conference on specialist skills in education, and Māori members too, where this initiative is to be discussed thoroughly; do come?]

💬 Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Āe, āe e Te Māngai, āe! Ā, kia kaha hoki ngā tāngata katoa o Aotearoa, kia tukuna ō rātou whakaaro ki Te Maihi Karauna, tēnā te kaupapa nui o Te Maihi Kārauna, te rautaki a Te Kāwanatanga hei tautoko i Te Reo Māori, hoi anō, ko tētahi o āna whāinga, kia kotahi miriona tātau o Aotearoa e kōrero Māori ana, ā, tōna paku matatau nei, i mua i te paunga o te tau 2040. Kai te marae nui o Te Motu nei, tēnei rautaki e kōrerotia ana, āe, e mea ana mātou ki Aotearoa whānui, me tono whakaaro mai. Mōhio ana mātou kei te hiahiatia Te Reo Māori, nā reira, me kaha ki te whakaea i tērā hiahia.

[Yes, yes, Mr Speaker, yes! And so all persons of New Zealand must be resolute as well in regards to submitting their thoughts about Te Maihi Karauna, that great policy, the strategy of the Government that supports the Māori language, and, accordingly, one of its objectives is that one million of us of in New Zealand are speaking Māori, with a small proportion of these becoming fluent by the end of the year 2040. This strategy is being spoken on the great courtyard of the nation; yes we are saying to New Zealand at large, send in a thought. We know that the Māori language is wanted, so work hard to fulfil that desire.]

💬 Hon Shane Jones: Ā taku pātai, mehemea he pūtea rānei kei Te Minita hei muru i te nama kia tae mai tetahi māhita ki te kura i Te Rōpū Nāhinara me pēhea te whakahua tika i Te Reo Māori?

[And so my question, does the Minister have a fund or not that will wipe out an invoice for a tutor to come here to educate the National Party on how the Māori language should be pronounced correctly?]

💬 Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Ā, e aroha atu ana e Te Māngai o Te Whare, ā, korekau he paku pūtea hei āwhina i a rātou nā te hōhonutanga o te hiahia o ngā koretaketanga o tērā taha o Te Whare ki te kōrero i Te Reo Māori.

[I sympathise, Mr Speaker; there isn’t a bit of funding to help them because of the depth of the ineptitude of that side of the House to speak the Māori language.]

💬 SPEAKER: I think we might’ve had a polite interpretation there.