Oral Questions

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

Yes.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does the Prime Minister accept that since her Government formed, the New Zealand economy has weakened?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I think a broad, generalised statement like that, no, actually, I wouldn’t accept. I keep in mind as well that the markers of success in an economy are things like unemployment levels—and we’ve had strong employment—and, of course, also the kinds of gains that every day New Zealanders experience in terms of wage growth and also particularly what we’re seeing in the Families Package. So I wouldn’t agree with that member’s statement.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Well, does she accept that from a Treasury forecast at the election of 3.7 percent growth in 2018, that growth slowed to 2.3 percent last year and was 0 percent per person in the last six months?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member isn’t reflecting, of course, what’s going on in the global economic environment. I have to say that, actually, relative to what’s going on with some of our counterparts, in the last quarter the economy grew 0.6 percent—faster than Australia, faster than Canada, faster than the UK, the euro area, and Japan, and faster than the OECD average rate.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does she accept the Reserve Bank’s assessment last week that the balance of risk to our economy and its outlook has now “shifted to the downside.” and Westpac, ANZ, Business New Zealand, and the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research have all put out significant surveys and forecasts which are all clearly negative and all clearly showing an economy—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member had far too many legs to that question. The Prime Minister can answer any one of them.

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I also note that there was reference also to the global economic environment that we are operating in. Again, I actually reference what the Minister of Finance has said, which was that we have strong economic fundamentals and sustainable economic growth that remains fundamental to New Zealand’s success. But, of course, we do not operate in isolation. Relative to what’s going on for other developed economies, we are performing well.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: In light of all the data, all the surveys, all the indicators, and what the Reserve Bank is saying, will she accept that the New Zealand economy is weakening at the moment?

💬 SPEAKER: Order! I’m going to ask the member to ask the question again in order.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does she accept, given the various facts I’ve put to her, that the economy in New Zealand today is weakening from where it was at the election?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: That is happening with every developed OECD nation, and that’s my point—that is my point. So, yes, there is a slow-down happening everywhere, but relative to what other economies are experiencing, ours is not at the degree that others are.

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could I ask the Prime Minister as to whether it’s a fact that the growth rate in New Zealand for the last quarter was 0.6 percent, whereas in Australia, one of our biggest trading partners and right next door, it was 0.2 percent?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does she and her Government take any responsibility for the New Zealand economy weakening?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: We of course take responsibility for economic management within New Zealand. However, we do not take responsibility for the fact that the IMF and the OECD have both downgraded their growth outlooks for 2019 and 2020. We do not operate in isolation, and I know the member knows that.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does she accept that in addition to international factors which are clearly there, there are clearly also domestic factors that are part of the downward trajectory of our economy at this moment?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I would actually say that some of the domestic factors mean that perhaps that’s some of the reasons we can differentiate ourselves from the likes of Australia, from the likes of Canada and from the likes of the UK and Japan.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does she accept and agree that the Reserve Bank last week said that part of the reason for the more negative outlook were factors including softness in the housing market, weak business investment and sentiment, and a decline in domestic spending?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Imagine, therefore, what would happen if we didn’t have the stimulus of the Provincial Growth Fund; if we didn’t have the stimulus of the Families Package, which has put, on average, $75 a week into those household incomes; and if we didn’t have that increase in the accommodation supplement. Imagine where we would be without that.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Can I get this right—is it the eight jobs created by the Provincial Growth Fund that’s saving our economy at this time?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I reject the premise of the question.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Isn’t it clear that domestic factors are at play in weakening our economy, including declining business confidence?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I do not accept the member’s argument. This is as good as the Government of the day claiming that the global financial crisis didn’t have an impact on New Zealand’s economy.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does she think her Government’s policies have had any effect on declining business confidence?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I think our policies have had an impact—that’s why we’ve got some of the lowest unemployment we’ve had in a decade.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does she think the Cullen Tax Working Group’s report on a capital gains tax is good for business confidence?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: This is a Government that is willing to address issues like, for instance, whether or not we have fairness in our tax system. I would ask the member to be patient for the final decisions that will be made by this Government. I know the business community, given that I’ve been in audiences speaking with them over the past couple of months and have had very few questions on this issue—I know they know that the decisions are still to be made.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does she think that her so-called fair-pay policies, or indeed any of her Government’s industrial law changes—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! The member will ask a straight question.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The policy by the Government is called fair pay. I simply don’t accept that’s accurate, and I think it’s fair that I say “so-called fair-pay policies”.

💬 SPEAKER: Well, the member might think that; I don’t. Ask the question.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does she think her fair-pay policies, or indeed any of her Government’s industrial law changes, are helping with business confidence?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I’d remind the member that business representatives were part of the Fair Pay Agreement Working Group—in fact, a past National Party Prime Minister was, as well—and with only one exception, they agreed with the recommendations that were made. This is a Government who’s not afraid to look at the facts that we have not had the wage growth that New Zealanders would expect and that we’re willing to address that, unlike the last Government.

💬 David Seymour: When the Prime Minister said a moment ago that she gets very few questions from the business community about the capital gains tax, did she mean to say that the New Zealand business community is not interested in or concerned about the introduction of a capital gains tax?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Quite to the contrary. The point I was trying to make is that the business community understands the Government is yet to make decisions on the recommendations of the Tax Working Group and are, obviously, waiting for those final decisions to be made.

💬 David Seymour: Why wouldn’t they ask questions and be interested in the decision that the Government’s about to make?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Because the—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Order! The Prime Minister will resume her seat. That question’s clearly not the responsibility of the Prime Minister.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Are her Government’s petrol taxes, oil and gas ban, and foreign investment ban helping business confidence?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Certainly, when it comes to the decision around whether or not oil and gas in 30 years’ time needs to transition, that is certainly helping the decisions around climate change, and that might well be an issue that the member on the other side of the House might like to think about what his transition plan is for the New Zealand economy.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: But isn’t it quite clear that in addition to international factors, there are many policies of this Government that are seeing our growth go from nearly 4 percent to nearly 2 percent?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again, one of the things that we’ve made sure that I have certainly done since being in this position is, for instance, to increase the engagement I’m having at the level with groups like the Business Advisory Council, and I can tell you that it is not petrol prices and it is not oil and gas that that group raises. It is what we’re doing around skills training. It’s what we’re doing around making sure that we increase productivity. It’s what we’re doing to make sure small businesses have access to capital. Those are all things that have not been adequately addressed. They are long-term challenges, and they’re things that this Government is working on.

Question No. 2—Finance

2. to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy?

I’ve seen a number of recent reports that highlight that the New Zealand economy continues to outperform international counterparts. Stats New Zealand’s recently released GDP growth figures for the December 2018 quarter show that the New Zealand economy grew at 0.6 percent in the quarter—

💬 Hon Member: How much?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: —0.6 percent—faster than Australia, Canada, the euro area, Japan, and the OECD average. Likewise, the BNZ-Business New Zealand’s performance of manufacturing and performance of services indices for February show both sectors continuing to expand at a solid rate. New Zealand’s manufacturing sector expanded faster in February than the US, China, the UK, Japan, and the eurozone. The services sector expanded faster in New Zealand than Australia, China, the UK, Japan, and the eurozone. This data demonstrates the New Zealand economy continuing to outperform our international peers on the back of solid fundamentals.

💬 Kiritapu Allan: What reports has he seen on the impact of international factors on the New Zealand economy?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well, in last week’s official cash rate decision, the Reserve Bank Governor pointed to global headwinds as risks to New Zealand’s economic outlook. He highlighted that growth is slowing amongst some of our key trading partners, including Australia, Europe, and China. This outlook was reinforced by the managing director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, in a speech yesterday, in which she said that “global growth has lost momentum amid rising trade tensions and tighter financial conditions,”. She also signalled that the IMF is likely to cut its global growth forecast for 2019 again, following cuts to forecasts made back in January. Despite the more positive news out of New Zealand recently and our solid economic fundamentals, the global outlook does remain a risk to our future economy.

💬 Kiritapu Allan: How is the Government responding to risks from the international economy?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: This Government does have a plan to transition ourselves to a more modern economy that is based on being more productive, more sustainable, and more inclusive. A key part of that is lifting our research and development spending to 2 percent of GDP within 10 years of taking office, and our research and development tax incentive, which came into force on Monday, will help New Zealand businesses boost their investment in innovation, allowing more businesses to develop new products and create more high-wage jobs for Kiwis. In addition, the Government will continue to manage the books responsibly so we are in a position to respond to any potential shocks from external forces.

Question No. 3—Finance

3. to the Minister of Finance: What was the real GDP per capita growth rate in the final half of the 2018 calendar year, and does he still stand by his statement that “we are building an economy that is more productive”?

GDP in 2019 prices per capita was $12,691 in the September 2018 quarter and $12,708 in the December 2018 quarter, giving a total of $25,399 for the second half of the 2018 calendar year. That is up from $25,240 in the second half of the 2017 calendar year—a growth rate of 0.6 percent. It is also up from $25,333 in the first half of 2018—a growth rate of 0.3 percent. In answer to the second part of the question, yes.

💬 Hon Amy Adams: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I listened very carefully, and there were certainly a lot of words in that answer. This is a question on notice. It is very specific and has an economically very precise meaning: the real, not nominal, growth rate—not numbers—in the final half of the year. We heard all sorts of information, including the first half of the last year and the annual amount and the nominal numbers. It is a very straight question, it is on notice, and I’d expect the Minister of Finance to be able to answer it.

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Speaking to the point of order, the question didn’t give a comparator. I offered two different comparators for the growth rate—one for the second half of the 2017 calendar year and one for the first half of 2018—both of which I expressed in dollar terms and rates.

💬 Hon Amy Adams: Speaking—

💬 SPEAKER: No, no, I’m still contemplating the answer. The question I’ve got is whether, in fact, out of that, without considerable deduction, someone could get a real rate as opposed to a dollar rate.

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I gave rates. I could do it again if you want me to.

💬 SPEAKER: The member did say “0.6”, and the member’s telling me that was a per capita rate?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: That’s a per capita rate.

💬 Hon Amy Adams: Is the Minister unaware that the Stats NZ website states—and I quote—“GDP per capita increased 0.1 percent in the December 2018 quarter, following a drop of 0.1 percent in the September … quarter.”, giving a total real GDP growth rate for the last half of last year of 0 percent? Is the Minister unaware, or is he embarrassed to answer?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: There are many ways of defining that. If the member had asked that in her primary question, that would have been the answer. What that exact same table from Statistics New Zealand shows is that when you compare the second half of 2018 to the second half of 2017, you see a growth rate of 0.6 percent. When you compare it to the first half, you see a growth rate of 0.3 percent.

💬 Hon Amy Adams: With growth per person confirmed by Stats NZ as being zero for the second half of last year, does he agree that it is “per person growth that matters the most for achieving higher material living standards”, as stated—

💬 SPEAKER: Order!

💬 Hon Amy Adams: —by Grant Robertson—

💬 SPEAKER: Order!

💬 Hon Amy Adams: —in 2016.

💬 SPEAKER: No, when I call a member to order, she stops. She had actually done two legs to a question.

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I do recall that statement. It is a very important part of what makes up a productive economy. I’d also agree with the former Minister of Finance Bill English, when he said that it’s output per worker that matters, and I can say that GDP per hour worked in the second half of 2018 was up 3 percent from the first half of 2018.

💬 Hon Amy Adams: So if it’s growth per person that matters the most, according to him, how does he feel that growth per person has gone from 1.6 percent a year in the five years before he became the Minister of Finance to being flat-lining under his watch?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As I said, it all depends on the base that the member goes to. I look back to the time when her Government was in office, and we can see that in the second half of 2018, there was a 0.6 percent GDP per capita growth rate compared to the second half of that year.

💬 Hon Amy Adams: So with a wide range of commentators now saying that a capital gains tax will make us less productive and slow our economy even further, why won’t he do the right thing and just rule it out?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Because we as a Government are considering our response to that, and because as a Government we’re not prepared to sit back and let tough issues drift on, like the growth in inequality that we saw under the last Government. On this side of the House, we are actually prepared to face up to those issues while making the changes in our economy that mean that all New Zealanders will benefit.

Question No. 4—Prime Minister

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

Yes.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: How will legalised marijuana for recreational use be regulated?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If the member is referring again to the question that we intend to put to the New Zealand public in the 2020 election, the Government is finalising decisions around how the question will be posed and what information, of course, will be provided in order to encourage debate. As I’ve said many times before—I know the member has a special interest in this area—I encourage her to join Chlöe Swarbrick and other members of the cross-party group to support the work that’s being done. Again, I point out for the benefit of members across the other side of the House, this is not a Government policy; it is a public referendum.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: Does she believe that a cross-party group of backbench MPs should be making the decision on what the question should be in an education campaign and what a regulated recreational marijuana use in New Zealand would be like?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member misunderstands. I have pointed out in this House many times that the question itself and the referendum will be determined by Cabinet in the same way as when the last Government developed a referendum question on the flag. They had a position on the referendum question; they did not, I believe, as a Government, promote a particular position.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: When is Cabinet expecting a paper on, perhaps, proposed regulations and what that might look like, and will a bill come to this House that can be debated as to what a regulated recreational marijuana use would look like in New Zealand?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again, all of those decisions we are wanting to ensure happen in good time so that the New Zealand public have enough time to consider their individual positions. As soon as Cabinet has made its decisions, we’re in a position to inform both Parliament and also the public. That work is being led by Minister Andrew Little.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: Can she indicate to the House perhaps a month that a paper might go to Cabinet to then be introduced to the House so that they can understand the time lines that we’re up against?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No, I won’t put those confines around Cabinet’s decision-making, but I can tell you that work is under way.

Question No. 5—Transport

5. to the Minister of Transport: What progress, if any, has the Government made on reducing traffic congestion in Auckland?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. When we look at average travel speeds in Auckland, Ministry of Transport data shows that from 2017 to 2018, congestion slightly eased in Auckland. However, we know that congestion is an awful daily reality for most Aucklanders, and the progress that our Government has made is just the beginning. We are making the largest ever transport investment over the next 10 years, including roads, motorways, public transport, and walking and cycling.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: When he said yesterday “Our Government wants to see transport projects rolled out as quickly as possible”, has he been on Auckland’s Southern Motorway recently?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I have and I’ve observed the continuing progress in widening the motorway in South Auckland, and that’s an important part of adding capacity to that stretch of the State highway.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: Why is it taking so long to get started on extending electric trains to Pukekohe?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well, unlike the last Government, we’ve actually put electrification of the commuter rail service to Pukekohe in our Government policy statement, in the National Land Transport Programme. It is funded, the decisions are being made, and it’s happening. As well as that, we are putting in place the building of the third main rail line—a vital rail investment to unlock progress for both freight and commuter traffic.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: Why is his priority for the largest and most expensive transport project in New Zealand’s history light rail down Dominion Road, a route already well served by public transport, when there’s congestion on the fringes of the city where most of the population growth is?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well, if the member would ask the other member sitting two seats along who was the transport Minister in the last Government, he would know that the former Government signed off light rail as the preferred mode from the central city to Māngere, that they accepted the expert advice from the Transport Agency and Auckland Transport that rapid transit is needed across the isthmus because bus congestion in the city is already so chronic that it’s causing major problems, and that the overwhelming imperative is to build a rapid transit network that serves our country’s biggest city. The member could just ask his colleague.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: In reference to rapid transport, does he agree with John Reeves of the Public Transport Users Association, who concludes, “basically the tram is going to be a very slow, very costly project and … is seriously going to be a waste of taxpayers money.”?

💬 Hon PHIL TWYFORD: No, I disagree with that public statement, and Mr Reeves—like the member asking the question—makes some incorrect assumptions about the design of the proposed light rail line. I suggest that he waits to see exactly, when the procurement process moves to the next stage, what the design specifications are.

Question No. 6—Health

6. to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement “I’m not intending to hold an inquiry into PHARMAC”?

💬 Hon Dr David Clark: Yes.

💬 SPEAKER: The Hon Dr David Clark. No, after he’s called properly.

Yes.

💬 SPEAKER: Thank you.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: Has he seen reports of the Prime Minister, when asked by the same reporter whether she would block a select committee inquiry into Pharmac, responding “Absolutely not.” and “I hope that they would.”, and how does he reconcile his position with hers?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: As I indicated to Stuff back in October last year, the Health Committee is free to hold inquiries about any topic it wishes.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: Has he spoken to the chair of the Health Committee about a select committee inquiry into Pharmac and has he instructed the chair to vote against any motion to hold a select committee inquiry?

💬 SPEAKER: Order! The member is asking the Minister whether he has breached privilege, and that is not the way it is done. The member might want to rephrase the question.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: Has he spoken to the chair of the Health Committee about an inquiry into Pharmac and what was the nature of that discussion?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The chair of the select committee, from time to time, tells me what’s going on on that committee, of course, and I follow with interest what’s going on on that committee.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: Has he spoken to the chair of Pharmac about the possibility of a select committee inquiry and what was the nature of that discussion?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: To my recollection, not in any recent period, no.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: Will he give the House an assurance that neither he nor any ministerial colleague will involve themselves in the consideration by the select committee of an inquiry into Pharmac?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I do not intend to break Standing Orders or privilege.

Question No. 7—Revenue

7. to the Minister of Revenue: What measures, if any, are in place to ensure individual taxpayers pay the correct amount of tax if they work two or more jobs?

I’m happy to inform the House that as of Monday, workers who were paying too much tax because of incorrect secondary tax codes are in line for relief.

💬 Hon Members: Hear, hear!

💬 Hon STUART NASH: Thank you. Until now, the tax on a second job has often been too high. More regular pay day information from employers allows the Inland Revenue Department to provide taxpayers with a tailored tax code so they are not overtaxed and they have more money in their pockets each week, rather than waiting for a refund at the end of the tax year. These changes ensure wage and salary earners are only paying the tax they should. This Government promised to eliminate unnecessary secondary tax for workers with more than one job, and we are delivering on that promise. [Interruption]

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Can one Minister answer the question, please.

💬 Dr Duncan Webb: How many taxpayers will be helped by the new, tailored tax codes?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: Four hundred and fifty-eight thousand people used secondary tax codes during the 2016-17 income year. Inland revenue estimates that 256,000 people with a tax refund of more than $50, and 119,000 people with tax to pay of more than $50 could benefit from these changes. As my good mate and colleague Fletcher Tabuteau has noted, “Most of these individuals [who pay secondary tax] are struggling to make ends meet and can’t afford to wait for a refund at the end of the year.” I am disappointed that the other side of the House didn’t want to support half a million hard-working Kiwis—

💬 SPEAKER: Order!

💬 Dr Duncan Webb: What assurances has the Minister received from the Inland Revenue Department about its ability to ensure these measures are implemented?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: As well as tailored tax codes, on 1 April, it also allowed for 750,000 New Zealanders to receive their tax refunds automatically. These changes are made possible because of the Inland Revenue Department’s Business Transformation Programme. The Inland Revenue Department assures me that this programme is on time and under budget. This is the Government’s largest IT and transformation project, and much has been learnt from the Novopay disaster under the previous Government. Even KPMG, who regularly review the programme, have said to me that this is the best transformational project they have reviewed from across the globe.

Question No. 8—Regional Economic Development

Before I call question No. 8, I will indicate to the House that the member asking the question has written to me pursuant to Standing Order 115(2).

8. to the Minister for Regional Economic Development: Does he stand by all his statements and actions?

Yes.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: After he told the New Zealand Herald yesterday, “Constitutionally, I must not comment on the High Court case.”, referring to a case between the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and Semenoff Logging, why did he then proceed to comment on the case?

💬 Hon SHANE JONES: Naturally, I won’t comment further on the case. The principles of comity and privilege are important constitutional privileges that define our system, but there is no stone that should be put upon the tongue of the champion of the regions to talk about the implications of decisions that our Government may from time to time be held accountable for.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: Has he discussed the case with any officials or ministerial colleagues; if so, who?

💬 Hon SHANE JONES: I have had absolutely nothing to do with the decision associated with the NZTA, and, indeed, that’s why the court case exists, as people are entitled to test whether or not statutory authority has been exceeded. I have not raised this matter with my fellow transport Ministers, and I have had one discussion—very brief—with the CEO of the NZTA. His name eludes me—he’s a short-term traveller.

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will withdraw that last reflection on a member outside of—

💬 Hon SHANE JONES: I withdraw and apologise.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: Is Stan Semenoff his mother’s cousin, as he told the Otago Daily Times in 2009 when explaining a $2,000 donation from him?

💬 Hon SHANE JONES: During the 2008 election, I declared, in 2009, that I had received a $2,000 koha—contribution. Stan Semenoff’s great-great-grandmother is my mother’s great-great-great-grandmother.

Question No. 9—Child Poverty Reduction

9. to the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction: Why is it that seven of nine indicators for child poverty increased between 2017 and 2018?

The statistics the member is referring to have been prepared for the purposes of creating baselines for the Child Poverty Reduction Act. The data is being generated by Statistics New Zealand and draws on data from the 2017-18 household economic survey and supplemented with administrative income data. I note, again, that the period covered takes us through to mid-2018, so his question might be better directed to himself and his Government than this one. I would note, though, to be fair, that most of these are within margin of error in terms of changes.

💬 Hon Alfred Ngaro: Is the Minister concerned that the growing costs of living such as rents and petrol could be causing hardship to the increase of 8,000 more children living in material hardship?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I highlight again: these are statistics that have been prepared in order to set baseline targets for the Child Poverty Reduction Act. It’s data that takes us through to mid-2018. That’s a particularly important point because it does mean that it didn’t take into account, for instance, the winter energy payment, which affected around a million New Zealanders. It didn’t take into account the Families Package, which, once in full force, will affect 384,000 families. It didn’t take into account free doctors visits for those up to 14 years of age or the accommodation supplement changes, I believe, for the most part, as well. So a significant amount has happened in that period of time.

💬 Hon Alfred Ngaro: What time line will she commit to in order to reduce those seven indicators of child poverty, which increased between 2017 and 2018?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As the member will know, we’ve committed to two sets of targets. We have three-year targets, which these now form the baseline rate for and which include the before-housing cost measure; the after-housing cost measure, set at 50 percent; and material hardship. We’ve done the same again for the 10-year rates, which, overall, aim to essentially halve our rates of poverty in New Zealand.

💬 Hon Alfred Ngaro: Considering the previous Government delivered on the nine indicators of reducing child poverty, will she now adopt their policy and practice?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Actually, I think probably what you would have found is the same disappointing reality that we’ve found—that the initiatives that the last Government attempted to put in to make a difference to material hardship were grossly overestimated in terms of impact. We had the same experience with the estimates Treasury produced over our Families Package. However, we’re still being advised that the Families Package will lift between 42,000 and 73,000 children out of poverty, which is a marked increase on the last Government’s last Budget package.

Question No. 10—Civil Defence

10. to the Minister of Civil Defence: What reports has he seen on the impacts from the storm that hit the West Coast of the South Island last week?

💬 SPEAKER: Before I call the Hon Kris Faafoi, I have been warned that these answers are slightly longer than normal.

I’ve seen a number of reports since a local state of emergency was declared on Tuesday of last week by the district mayor and lifted on Friday of last week. During this time, flooding impacted private and public land, transport and communication links, and a number of infrastructure assets in the region. The rainfall impacted 23 properties, prompting evacuations in the Waiatoto area and damaging local roads. Farms along the Waiho River were also impacted by flooding, and significant damage was caused to stopbanks in the region. Along with local MP Damien O’Connor, I visited the region last week to see first-hand the consequences and the response to the flooding, and was heartened by the demonstration of strength in the community. The legacy landfill site at Fox River has been severely eroded by the river, which has cut through bush, causing rubbish to be taken downstream and north through the northern drift at sea. Litter has been observed along approximately 20 kilometres of the riverbed and from the Fox River mouth as far as north Ōkārito, and the regional council is leading the clean-up effort there. Unfortunately, one person has died as a result of this weather event, and on behalf of Parliament, we offer the family and friends of this person our condolences.

💬 Rino Tirikatene: What updates has he received on the Waiho Bridge?

💬 Hon KRIS FAAFOI: As the House would know, the Waiho Bridge was washed away during this event, cutting State Highway 6 to the south of the town and phone and internet services to Fox Glacier. State Highway 6 between Franz Josef and Fox Glacier remains closed as a result of the Waiho Bridge being washed away. I have been advised that the New Zealand Transport Agency and the New Zealand Defence Force continue to work establishing a replacement bridge across the Waiho River and that this will temporarily be repaired in approximately 17 days. This is slightly longer than initially anticipated as the design has been reworked to allow class 1 vehicles, which include some heavier trucks—not just cars and buses—to use this bridge.

💬 Rino Tirikatene: What are the next steps for the recovery phase for this event?

💬 Hon KRIS FAAFOI: The Westland District Council is now able to undertake recovery and planning from this event. Emergency works are under way on the south bank of the Waiho River to cut off channels currently flooding the Franz Josef airstrip. Chorus has installed temporary communication cables across the Waiho River, and Vodafone has installed a temporary cellphone tower near Fox Glacier to restore communicational links with that township. I’m also pleased to inform the House that electricity generation has now been stabilised in Haast, with the power station generating electricity. There will be a requirement for planned outages in the future, but these will be part of programmed maintenance and not emergency works. Detailed assessments of stopbanks along the Waiho River downstream of Franz Josef are now being undertaken to determine the full extent of the damage. Farms that were cut off have contingencies being worked on to ensure cows are milked and milk is handled and disposed of appropriately. The Ministry for Primary Industries is now undertaking a needs assessment with affected property owners. A further assessment of property damage is being undertaken in South Westland by urban search and rescue teams, and while most people have been able to return to their homes and tourists affected by road closures have now been able to be moved on, a limited number of people continue to be assisted with accommodation.

Question No. 11—Corrections

11. to the Minister of Corrections: What new measures, if any, has this Government introduced to ensure the safety of corrections officers while carrying out their duties?

The biggest measure introduced by this Government is a commitment to safely reducing the prison population, which has seen the number of people in prison drop below 10,000. We’ve also increased the number of front-line corrections officers by over 300, and having more corrections officers and fewer prisoners creates a safer working environment inside our prisons.

💬 Hon David Bennett: What action will the Minister take for the statistics that show assaults on corrections officers are trending up and in some cases doubling, meaning New Zealand’s prisons are becoming a more dangerous place to work?

💬 Hon KELVIN DAVIS: It’s interesting to note that as the prison population has risen since 2009, nine-tenths of that time has been under the previous Government. The number of assaults has indeed increased, and, as I’ve just said in the answer to the primary question, the biggest thing we can do is to continue to safely reduce the prison population. Fewer prisoners means less stress and less anxiety, and more corrections officers means they’re able to deal with incidents. It creates a safer environment in prisons.

💬 Hon David Bennett: Does the Minister believe that prisoners who breach the rules of a prison, including assaulting corrections officers and putting their safety at risk, should continue to access programmes to assist them in getting parole?

💬 Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Sorry, Mr Speaker, I missed the last part of the question.

💬 SPEAKER: The last part of the question.

💬 Hon David Bennett: Should continue to access programmes to assist them in getting parole?

💬 Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Oh, it’s essential that we do all we can to assist prisoners to become better people upon their release from prison than they were when they went into prison.

💬 Hon David Bennett: Has the Minister taken any action following an assault at Auckland women’s prison yesterday—that the prison director visited the assailant prisoner to give her a hug and never met the prison officer?

💬 Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Whenever there is an assault on a prison officer, I make every attempt personally to contact that person. I express my gratitude for the job that they’re doing. I assure them that they’re in a very difficult job and that we really appreciate their efforts. I also apologise for the fact that they’ve been assaulted. The response that I get probably nine times out of ten is that they didn’t expect a phone call and they’re very grateful for having a corrections Minister that actually cares.

💬 SPEAKER: Because there’s no 12th question, that concludes oral questions.