Oral Questions

1. to the Associate Minister of Transport: What recent progress has been made on regional roading projects?

With characteristic modesty, I would like to announce to the House that the Taipā bridge championed by the Rt Hon Winston Peters in the year 2014 was opened on behalf of the New Zealand Transport Agency, the community, and myself yesterday. That bridge suffered nine long years of neglect, and it has now been opened in the second year—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Order!

💬 Mark Patterson: What benefits will the new bridge bring to the local community?

💬 Hon SHANE JONES: The completion of this bridge fulfils the need for trust, reliability, and delivery. After two years of suitable leadership, the people of Taipā have enjoyed not only a bridge but the improvements to stormwater infrastructure at the local school—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Order! Not the responsibility of the Associate Minister of Transport.

💬 Hon SHANE JONES: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. In actual fact, the development of the bridge required the relocation of a memorial to the local school, which required an improvement to water infrastructure, reflective of the wide-ranging responsibilities I hold.

💬 Mark Patterson: What other regional transport projects are progressing?

💬 Hon SHANE JONES: State Highway 43, otherwise known as the Forgotten World Highway, a particularly symbolic name, as much of the regional areas of New Zealand have suffered the “Forgotten World” scenario as a consequence of neglect for at least nine years—$9.6 million from the Provincial Growth Fund will ensure not only that the unsealed section is sealed but that new opportunities will arise through improving the Tangarakau Gorge, an important freight route for beef, lamb, dairy businesses, and bees. Belonging to a party so pro-farming, that’s good news.

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: Well, Mr Jones, that’s one bridge; what happened to the other nine bridges that Simon Bridges promised?

💬 SPEAKER: Order! There is no ministerial responsibility for that Bridges.

Question No. 2—Prime Minister

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

Yes, especially my statement that nearly every school and community in New Zealand will benefit from a capital injection next year valued at $693 per student to bring forward urgent school property improvement. I’m proud that students and teachers will be the first to benefit from our infrastructure package. We are taking advantage of historically low interest rates to improve school buildings and grounds, creating jobs up and down the country. It’s the biggest capital injection for school maintenance funding in at least 25 years. It’s also great for local tradespeople as schools engage local builders, plumbers, landscapers, roofers, and those to re-carpet the floors. This has been well received across the country except, sadly, by the members opposite.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Why has economic growth nearly halved since her Government started?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I would reflect on the fact that the member experienced some relatively modest economic growth when he was in office. He, of course, turned and looked at the economic environment, but, somehow, the economic environment in which New Zealand exists doesn’t matter. We are in a situation where global headwinds are having an impact on just about everyone that we compare ourselves to. Relative to others, at 2.4 percent we are doing very well. The OECD also holds that up with its latest analysis too. So, relative to others, I think we can hold our heads up high.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Why has monthly job growth decreased nearly 70 percent since she’s been Prime Minister?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: My recollection is that with some of the lowest unemployment rates that we’ve had in a decade and job creation, from my recollection, sitting at around 80,000, at the same time—very proud on this side of the House—we also care about what happens to wages, and they are at some of the highest rates that we’ve seen in a decade, at over 4 percent. We know that New Zealanders are benefiting from a Government that looks both at putting people into jobs—but good, decent, well-paying jobs—at the same time as growing jobs. It’s bizarre to, in one breath, have the member criticise announcements that help job creation and, on the other hand, question us over it. We are doing both.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does she accept that the cost of living has increased sharply in the last two years, with petrol prices up and rents rising on average almost $50 a week?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: We continue to have this stoush around rent rises. What I’d point to is Statistics New Zealand’s latest rent measures, which show annual rents rose at 2.1 percent from a year ago. That’s the lowest annual growth in over three years. Within that, the flow measure of Auckland rents, our biggest rental market, fell 1 percent. The last time there was a larger negative move in Auckland rents was in July 2009. On the cost of living, I would also add this is a Government that, when we came in, recognised we needed to focus on low and modest income earners. We cancelled that member’s tax cut, we gave it to families who needed it most, and, on average, by the time our Families Package rolls out, families will be on average $75 a week better off. That is directly to ensure that families can meet cost of living issues.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Why does she think seven out of nine measures of child poverty have worsened under her Government?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Because that measure was focused up until 2017, and that member did nothing about poverty. It’s a measure of what you didn’t do, not what we didn’t do, and I would thank the member to stop blaming this Government for what his Government didn’t do, because that is what those statistics showed.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: What, then, does she say to the head of the Christchurch City Mission, who says, “Things were much better under the previous Government. We are underfunded. The poverty we see is worse.”?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Then I would ask the member whether or not the last Government introduced a winter energy payment, increases to the family tax credit, removed some of the punitive sanction that was hitting families disproportionately, brought in a Best Start payment that goes to families with newborns and extends to years two and three of those on middle and low incomes, extended paid parental leave, and made sure that those who need additional assistance are getting it through the Ministry of Social Development. Anyone who claims that we have somehow not done as much as the last Government—I would seriously question what they are basing that on.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Why have food grants doubled?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Because we give people support when they need it. If the member wants to create a situation, a perverse situation, where we focus on getting that number down by sacrificing people’s ability to access the help they need—I would rather see people supported than living in cars without the help they need.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Why have no significant roading or other major infrastructure projects started under her Government?

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

💬 David Seymour: Does the Prime Minister stand by her Government’s action of rushing legislation through Parliament to ban firearms in only nine days in April?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I absolutely stand by it, because it meant that we’ve got tens of thousands of dangerous, military-style automatic weapons off our streets, and I think that’s broadly supported by New Zealanders.

💬 David Seymour: Why can’t the Prime Minister accept that rushed legislation leads to unintended consequences and accidents, such as 37—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! That’s two questions.

💬 David Seymour: —thousand people—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! When I tell the member he’s had his two questions, he stops.

💬 David Seymour: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Standing Orders state very clearly that you’re allowed to make the question intelligible. I asked if she accepted there were mistakes. The question is not intelligible if I’m not allowed to give an example of the mistake, so I don’t see how that could possibly be out of order.

💬 SPEAKER: If the member had given one, I would’ve let him; he gave two.

💬 David Seymour: I had not given one.

💬 SPEAKER: Right, you have.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Will the Ihumātao land dispute be resolved before Christmas?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: We of course will seek to have it resolved, the time line of which I hope is as soon as possible. I’m sure that member would share the ambition of seeing this peacefully resolved.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Will her Government’s electoral law introduced today deal with the situation where foundations and trusts receive donations which are then provided to political parties for electoral purposes?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Actually, the question I got asked on the tiles was whether or not it would deal with the more recent foreign donation example of the National Party. The answer to that is, actually, that’s a bit more complex. Obviously, that’s something the Ministry of Justice has asked for a bit more time to work on, that issue, and I look forward to the cooperation of the Opposition in developing those proposals.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister deflected and didn’t come anywhere close to my precise question.

💬 SPEAKER: Well, I suggest the member listens.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Will her Government’s electoral law introduced today deal with the situation where foundations and trusts receive donations which are then provided to political parties for election purposes?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member well knows that it focuses on foreign donations—again, I’ve just acknowledged, though, the scope of which does not cover the substantive issue that some have raised around the way the National Party have used foreign donations. That’s an area of work where we need a bit more time because it is a bit more complex.

💬 Hon Shane Jones: “Genghis Khan”.

💬 SPEAKER: Looking backwards, Mr Jones, doesn’t help—no one else has a voice like yours, and it will be turned down for the rest of question time.

Question No. 3—Education

3. to the Minister of Education: What investments is the Government making in most State schools so that they can upgrade and modernise their classrooms over the next 24 months?

Some very good news. On Sunday, the Prime Minister announced that $400 million is being spent so that most State schools across New Zealand can bring forward urgent school property improvements over the next two years. [Interruption]

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Order! I’d like to hear the Minister, rather than the seals in the background.

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: This is the biggest capital injection for school maintenance funding in at least 25 years and is the first part of the Government’s wider infrastructure package.

💬 Marja Lubeck: How many schools will benefit from the Government’s latest investment in school property?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I’m very pleased to say that 2,050 schools will receive funding from the package, with benefit for 661,000 students. Allocations will be based on recent roll numbers. The smallest schools will receive no less than $50,000, the larger schools will receive up to a maximum of $400,000, and special schools will receive $200,000 each, regardless of their roll size, to recognise their property requirements. Schools will be able to spend this money on things like upgrades, replacing roofing, replacing stormwater and drainage systems, installing energy-efficient heating systems, and resurfacing outdoor courts and paved areas.

💬 Marja Lubeck: How will schools apply for the increased funding to upgrade their classrooms and facilities?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: A very good question. Schools are now able to go directly to the Ministry of Education with their property plans, and the school can then go out and obtain quotes for the work. This means that they’ll be able to use their existing contractor relationships and local providers to deliver that work. A quarter of our State schools are in small and isolated communities, which means that this cash injection is going to help to assist in stimulating regional economies as well as benefiting their local schools.

💬 Kieran McAnulty: What does the school property funding announced on Sunday by the Prime Minister mean for schools in Wairarapa?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I’m very pleased to tell the member that there are 52 schools in the Wairarapa that will receive a total of just under $7 million for their property budgets to bring forward their upgrade work.

💬 Kiritapu Allan: What does the school property funding announced on Sunday by the Prime Minister mean for the schools in the mighty East Coast?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Even better news. I’m pleased to tell the member that the 90 schools in the East Coast will receive a total of $12.3 million to upgrade their properties.

💬 Marja Lubeck: What other recent investments has the Government been making in school property?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I’m very pleased to say that this latest investment comes on top of the $1.2 billion that we invested into school capital through the Wellbeing Budget to ensure that we’re keeping up with roll growth. This Government, so far, has announced the upgrade or new build of at least 1,100 classrooms, benefiting 33,000 students across the country, and 726 new classrooms have been built or upgraded, benefiting 15,000 students since the Government took office.

Question No. 4—Prime Minister

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

Yes, especially today’s official opening of the Cancer Control Agency, who will play a critical role in ensuring all New Zealanders get world-class cancer care, no matter who they are or where they live. Modernising our approach to cancer won’t happen overnight, but with strong leadership from the agency, a greater focus on prevention, screening, and treatment, we’re well placed to make progress. In doing this work, I do want to acknowledge the family of Blair Vining, who, of course, was integral in some of the advocacy around greater consistency of care.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Does she stand by her statement that it was “always a part of the policy design” to allow authorised firearms dealers to get greater access to information regarding the gun buy-back scheme?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: My reference there was to the fact that dealers had sought to be agents who are able to collect firearms, store them, and then hand them over to police as part of the buy-back. The feedback we had when we were looking at the Australian model was that some gun owners would prefer to hand over their guns to a dealer rather than to return them to the police. We made provision for that in the development of the programme which enabled dealers to be part of those arrangements.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: How many people have accessed private data from the gun buy-back database?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The advice that I have received via the authorised agents in this case, which is SAP, is that one person was able to access that information.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: When was the data first accessed?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I’m aware that the police were advised yesterday. The member will forgive me if I can’t tell you exactly when the access was obtained, but my belief is recently.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Is she certain her police Minister was right when he said that the only group who has shared this information are the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners’ lawyers?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Sorry, can you repeat the question?

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Is she certain her police Minister was right when he said that the only group who has shared this information are the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners’ lawyers?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Actually, we’ve been advised by the police—and the private provider, of course, who has overseen the development of this programme that’s allowed people to log on and register the return of their guns and then dealers, also, to be involved—that only one dealer logged in and viewed information that they shouldn’t have. That individual person has given assurances to the police that they have not shared that information subsequent to that. I have seen the claims by the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners. I would ask them to cooperate with the police, because, at this stage, we have no further information to demonstrate that it has gone as far as has been claimed. At that point yesterday, the Minister of Police was referring to statements that have been made by the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners.

Question No. 5—Finance

5. to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by all of his policies and statements?

Yes, in the context in which they were made. I particularly stand by the careful management that has seen this Government have net debt below 20 percent in our first two years and run surpluses over that period of time. That now puts us in a position to take advantage of very low interest rates to correct the infrastructure deficits that were left behind by nine years of blue darkness.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: Regarding his statement at the weekend’s Labour Party conference, “At the World Economic Forum in Davos this year I was so proud to hear our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tell the world how the Wellbeing Budget would work, and, more importantly, why it mattered.”, was the world’s response any different to what he is hearing from ordinary Kiwis who are wondering what happened to KiwiBuild?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The response was very positive, as indeed it has been to the Wellbeing Budget right across New Zealand. For example, the fact that among business audiences around New Zealand, among NGOs, the idea that a Government might take mental health seriously and put it at the core of a Budget is something that has been very, very well received.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: Has the feedback from Davos been any different than the feedback from Kiwi motorists wondering why 12 major road projects were cancelled or postponed by his Government?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I completely reject the premise of that member’s question. It’s all very well to stand in the middle of a field all alone, as the then National Party leader did, and make empty promises about ghost roads, but not actually fund them. That’s not the same thing as actually funding roads, and I’m very proud of our record in that regard.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: Was the feedback from the crowd at Davos different to what he’s hearing from Kiwis running small businesses as they struggle with rising costs?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Look, I can feel the members’ jealousy about the lack of an invite to Davos, and I can say to him that I’ll do my level best to get Klaus Schwab interested in the member from Epsom—not for Epsom—and get him an invite to the next one.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: With export prices and our terms of trade at the highest level in decades, why does he always blame global headwinds for slower growth since he’s been in Government?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: It’s not just me who has a focus on the fact that New Zealand exists in a global economy. In fact, if we refer to the Mood of the Boardroom survey, he would have noted—the member was there when that was released—that seven out of the top 10 concerns for business leaders in New Zealand were to do with the international environment. We are in an environment of global headwinds; the New Zealand economy is well-positioned to deal with them.

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can the Minister tell us as to whether the feedback from Davos was one of envy at the NZX in New Zealand right now being at an all-time record since it was first formed?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Indeed, that is the case that we have at the moment. I think it’s a sign of confidence inside the economy, and I do believe that if members opposite looked beyond their negative mind-set, they’d see signs all over the economy that spring has indeed been here.

Question No. 6—Finance

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

Atu kōrero pai—more good news. On Thursday last week, ANZ released its latest business outlook survey, showing both that headline business confidence and own-activity indicators jumped by double digits in November to their highest levels this year. It’s pleasing to see that the business community are feeling a little bit more optimistic as we head into the festive season. And while, of course, this remains a sentiment survey, I’d like to note the turnaround in what is a favourite measure for those on the other side of the House.

💬 Dr Duncan Webb: What reports has he seen on consumer confidence?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: We also saw the release of the ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence survey for November, showing consumer confidence lifted three points to 121, above its historical average. Encouragingly, confidence in the economic outlook overall lifted. Consumers’ perceptions of the economy over the next year lifted seven points to a net 4 percent expecting conditions to improve, while the five-year outlook rose five points—

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: From below bottom.

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: From ridiculously bad to really bad.

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: —they’re loving this over there!—to a net 15 percent expecting improvement. When viewed alongside the business outlook results, this survey paints a picture of increased confidence in, and a more positive outlook of, the economy going forward.

💬 Dr Duncan Webb: What is the Government doing to further bolster confidence and certainty in the economy?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On Saturday, I announced that the Government will bring forward major investments in New Zealand’s infrastructure. This package will help address the infrastructure deficit that we inherited, boost growth and job opportunities, and create certainty in the construction industry going forward. I know many in the Chamber will be very keen to hear more details of this package, and I’ll have more to say about the size of it and how it will support the economy at the Budget Policy Statement next week.

Question No. 7—Police

7. to the Minister of Police: Does he have confidence in New Zealand Police’s ability to keep the information of firearm owners secure?

Yes.

💬 Brett Hudson: Is he concerned that a claim exists that 19 people—not just firearms dealers—have accessed private information about firearms owners?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: The evidence doesn’t show that, and whoever makes that claim, I suggest they get in touch with the police.

💬 Brett Hudson: Does he accept that unauthorised access to information about the ownership of firearms could pose a risk to affected individuals?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: My understanding, according to the latest police update, is 34 people had their information accessed and all 34 of those people are going to be contacted by police today.

💬 Brett Hudson: What actions is he taking to ensure that firearms owners whose information may have been breached do not have that information used against them?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: If that information is used against them, or in any way which is illegal, then the police will be investigating this. There is a full investigation under way at this point in time, but, as mentioned, the 34 individuals who had their full information breached will be contacted individually by the police.

💬 Brett Hudson: Will he apologise to the firearms owners who provided their information to the Government to assist in the buy-back scheme, and now face a potential breach of their privacy?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: Let me read a statement from SAP, and I quote: “A new security profile was incorrectly provisioned to a group of 66 dealer users due to human error by SAP. We unreservedly apologise to New Zealand Police and the citizens of New Zealand for this error.”

💬 SPEAKER: Order! The member will address the question.

💬 Hon STUART NASH: I will not apologise, but SAP, who made this error, has.

💬 Brett Hudson: Will he now agree with National, who called for the Government’s firearms register proposal to be separated out from the Arms Legislation Bill so that more care can be taken with protecting the privacy of New Zealanders?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: The National Party voted for the legislation that is seeing the removal of this, and it would be good, for once, to actually see them support this.

Question No. 8—Employment

8. to the Minister of Employment: Does he agree with the Prime Minister that Mana in Mahi will provide “places for up to 4,000 young people”?

The Prime Minister said that at the launch of Mana in Mahi in August of 2018, and I absolutely agree with the context of her statement, which was that our aspiration is to have up to 4,000 places available. I also agree with the Minister of Finance, who said the Wellbeing Budget boosts Mana in Mahi, the programme that subsidises employers to take on apprentices, “extending the places available from 150 to almost 2,000, and progresses towards [our] goal of 4,000 places”.

💬 Hon Louise Upston: When did the Minister have the conversation with the Prime Minister to advise her that the 4,000 placements were too aspirational for him to deliver?

💬 Hon WILLIE JACKSON: I speak with the Prime Minister all the time, and the 4,000 remains aspirational. I’m sure after four years, when we’re going to get to 2,000 people, we’ll be looking at that number.

💬 Hon Louise Upston: How does the Minister reconcile the written question response stating that the Ministry of Social Development expects to deliver 2,000 placements by June 2023 with previous Government statements, including that from the Prime Minister, that up to 4,000 places will be available by the end of 2019?

💬 Hon WILLIE JACKSON: As I said earlier, the Prime Minister was talking about an aspiration. I support, and this Government supports, that aspiration.

💬 Kieran McAnulty: What is significant about the people participating in Mana in Mahi?

💬 Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Mana in Mahi is opening up career pathways for all Kiwis, with a targeted focus on our young people. It is especially pleasing to see that many participants are moving from long periods on a benefit into skills development while they are working. In fact, 39 percent have already spent more than one year receiving a benefit before starting the programme. As Minister of Employment, I want to see labour markets that all our people can participate in.

💬 Hon Louise Upston: When will the number of Mana in Mahi placements exceed the number of young people that are joining the dole?

💬 Hon WILLIE JACKSON: In time.

💬 Hon Louise Upston: Of the 5,500 young people that have joined the dole since that Government has been in office, what percentage are enrolled in Mana in Mahi?

💬 Hon WILLIE JACKSON: In terms of the percentage in terms of Mana in Mahi, we’re at a point where we’re at, in terms of the percentage—we’re at a percentage that is at a lower rate than the unemployment rate.

💬 Hon Louise Upston: Ha, ha! Sorry, Mr Speaker. Is Mana in Mahi just another one of the Government’s broken promises letting down some of our most vulnerable young New Zealanders?

💬 Hon WILLIE JACKSON: No, not at all. In fact, Mana in Mahi has been a huge success. We have an 84 percent success rate in terms of young people not going back to the dole—84 percent. Now, I know the member has problems with numbers, but it’s 84 percent not going back on an unemployment benefit. That is a huge success for Mana in Mahi and for this Government.

💬 Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern: What reports has he seen recently on Mana in Mahi placements, and can he confirm stories such as those of the young person who was on an unemployment benefit for a number of years due to longstanding mental health issues and has now found employment that has given them hope and dignity, because of Mana in Mahi?

💬 Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Absolutely. Thank you to the Prime Minister. We have these types of stories coming through all the time—all the time—and we care about these individuals.

💬 Hon Gerry Brownlee: Making it up.

💬 Hon WILLIE JACKSON: They’ve been long-term beneficiaries—long-term beneficiaries.

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will resume his seat. The Hon Gerry Brownlee will stand, withdraw, and apologise.

💬 Hon Gerry Brownlee: I withdraw and apologise. I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It would help me to know what I’m apologising for.

💬 SPEAKER: The member is a member of considerable experience, and he would know that both myself and my predecessor and his predecessor repeatedly ruled out as disorderly and inappropriate the interjection that he just made. The Hon Willie Jackson—I did interrupt; the member’s had enough, has he?

💬 Hon WILLIE JACKSON: In terms of the stories, the stories are endless in terms of Mana in Mahi. We’re really proud of this, and we’re shocked that the National Party is continually condemning our young people. Eighty-four percent of these young people are not going back on unemployment benefits—what part of that does the National Party not understand? Eighty-four percent.

Question No. 9—Health

9. to the Minister of Health: What recent reports has he seen about the impact of cost on access to primary healthcare?

In a country like New Zealand, no one should have to put off going to the doctor when they’re sick, and that’s why I bring more good news. In December last year, the Government made it cheaper for around 600,000 New Zealanders to visit their GP.

💬 Hon Member: How many?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: 600,000. The latest results of the New Zealand Health Survey suggest that that is already making a real difference. The survey found that last year, 57,000 fewer people put off visiting their GP due to cost compared to the previous year. That’s an almost 10 percent reduction in just one year and takes the rate of unmet need for general practice services due to cost to the lowest level since the survey started reporting on this, in 2012.

💬 Angie Warren-Clark: What are the benefits of making primary care more affordable and accessible?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Access to primary care is a key entry point to preventative healthcare and early intervention. Put simply, the more people who seek help from their doctor early, the better. Not only does it mean that health issues can be picked up early, when it’s often easier to treat them; it can also help people to avoid the need for costly hospital treatment. We know that cost is a barrier to GP care. That’s why it is so encouraging to see this sharp decrease in the number of people who have put off going to a doctor, because now they can afford it.

💬 Angie Warren-Clark: What other progress has been made in improving access to primary care?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The New Zealand Health Survey also showed encouraging progress in two other areas where cost can be a barrier to care. Last year, 50,000 fewer adults reported that cost had prevented them from filling a prescription, and 33,000 fewer people avoided going to after-hours primary care because of cost. Obviously, there is more work to be done, but that is real progress from a Government committed to making healthcare affordable for New Zealanders.

Question No. 10—Foreign Affairs

10. to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What is the Government’s official reaction to claims made by the Russian foreign ministry that New Zealand is responsible for the “murder” of seven children in Afghanistan?

First, I would like to thank Mr Brownlee for his question. The last time the Minister of Foreign Affairs received a question from the Opposition was on 20 February this year. Evidently, things have been going perfectly for the last 10 months. The firing ranges in Bamian have been used by a number of international force—

💬 Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That was an interesting introduction to the question. These are important matters. Mr Peters often tells the world how important he is, so he’s only ever asked important questions. I think his response—or his opening to that question—was somewhat unparliamentary.

💬 SPEAKER: Probably at about the same level as the point of order. The Rt Hon Winston Peters—with the substance of the answer.

💬 Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: It was out of appreciation. I was beginning to feel neglected.

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Order! I think the member’s coming very close to misleading the House.

💬 Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The firing ranges in Bamian have been used by a number of international forces over multiple conflicts. This makes it extremely difficult to definitively link specific unexploded ordinance incidents with particular munitions or countries. The members should also note that it was the previous Government which failed to clear the ranges to an acceptable standard introduced in November 2013. Therefore, it’s strange that they wish to raise this of all issues in the House, though we are more than willing, Mr Brownlee, to engage.

💬 Hon Gerry Brownlee: Will he be calling in the Russian Ambassador to set the record straight, telling him the New Zealand Defence Force did clear to the acceptable standard at the time the particular range in question?

💬 Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of myself, the Russians have been aware of the New Zealand Defence Force statement issued on 5 November 2019, which makes it clear what the New Zealand position is. It’s publicly available and we’re not deviating from it.

💬 Hon Gerry Brownlee: Does his inaction in engaging with the Russian Ambassador here in New Zealand in defence of the New Zealand Defence Force indicate a Government acceptance of the allegations made by the Russians?

💬 Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: This Government is famous for defending the Defence Force and provisioning them with the equipment they need for the first time in about 11 years. Here’s the reality, though. Just because some apparatchik in the Russian foreign service makes a statement is no reason for us to react.

💬 Hon Gerry Brownlee: Has he been told by his ministry that the Russians left an estimated 30 million landmines in Afghanistan and that those landmines kill or maim some 2,000 Afghans every year; and, if so, why is he accepting the allegations made against New Zealand defence forces by the Russian Government?

💬 Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: If any member of this Parliament had a grasp of history, they’ll know it was decades ago that the Russians left and that they had nine years to tell the Russians about their failure, and never did.

💬 Hon Gerry Brownlee: Will he be calling in the Russian Ambassador to explain to him that it is unacceptable to the New Zealand Government—the allegations that have been made against the New Zealand Defence Force—when they have left 30 million landmines that kill or maim 2,000 Afghans every year?

💬 Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The reality is we will consider the member’s request, and it may be that we’ll have to overcome the neglect of nine years before us where they said nothing. But we’re not going to react to an apparatchik in the foreign services of the Russia, which had, as that person’s intent, an attack on the UK where they saw us as collateral damage. We don’t react like that.

💬 Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern: Can the Minister confirm that the Government sought to set the public record straight by acknowledging that the New Zealand Defence Force, yes, met the standard at the time when they cleared the ranges and departed from Afghanistan; and had been undertaking work to go further and meet the additional new standards; and, at the same time, had cleared a significant—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Order!

💬 Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern: —amount of unexploded munitions—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! The Prime Minister is now on to—[Interruption] Order! The Prime Minister will resume her seat. [Interruption] No, no, and I’ve ruled the question out. There are four legs to it. The Prime—

💬 Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Mr Speaker—

💬 SPEAKER: No, no; the member will resume his seat.

💬 Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. With this exception, I’m not challenging your ruling, but lives matter and people’s lives have been lost, and the accusations that are being attempted—to sheet them against our country. And I’d like to defend our forces who, after all—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. If the Minister or anyone in the Government wants to ask an in-order supplementary question in order to do that, that will be acceptable, but I do want to make it clear that the Prime Minister is not exempt from the rules for asking supplementary questions, even if she is relatively out of practice.

💬 Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern: Can the Minister confirm that the Government set the public record straight on the matters that the member has raised?

💬 Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The answers to all the Prime Minister’s questions have been yes, yes, and yes. More than 200 tonnes worth of unexploded munitions have been cleared by our Defence Force, and a number of those will date back as far as the 1980s after a decades-long war. We support our defence forces going about their public duty.

💬 Hon David Bennett: No, you don’t. You’re a dreamer.

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Mr Bennett, at least get your interjections in order.

💬 Hon Gerry Brownlee: Will the Minister be calling in the Russian Ambassador to express to him the Government’s dissatisfaction at the allegations laid against the New Zealand Defence Force, and to perhaps even ask for the Russian Government to consider putting a little bit of funding into the extreme costs now being met by the New Zealand taxpayer to clear up some of the 30 million landmines left in Afghanistan by the Russians?

💬 Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I don’t have to. The Russian Ambassador’s watching this programme as I speak and is hanging on every word.

Question No. 11—Arts, Culture and Heritage

11. to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: Does she stand by all her statements and actions around data breaches?

Yes.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: Can she confirm written questions that show the data breach of a sensitive, unencrypted email titled “Upcoming Ministry for Culture and Heritage papers for the next two months, beginning 19 August 2019” was incorrectly sent by her ministry to a Victoria University email account?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member has used the written question system to extract the details of that; it is absolutely his prerogative to use the House to do that also, but I would categorise the issue of information being sent to an incorrect email address as a result of an autocomplete error, which was detected immediately and has obviously engaged the ministry’s usual response to privacy breaches, and it has disclosed the issue—as the member is already aware.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: Is it another data breach on her watch when as well as her answer to written question No. 35941, her ministry also sent me all the background information advising her how to answer the question?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If the member chooses to use the House’s question time for inadvertent emails being sent—as the member can well imagine, back in the day when Shane Ardern was in the House, I used to get a fair amount of information as well.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: I seek leave to table background information to a written question No. 35941, that is not publicly available. The source is the Minister’s own ministry.

💬 SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that being tabled?

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

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I seek for this question now to cease: everyone has the information I am about to provide the House—ha!

💬 Dr Shane Reti: Can she confirm that the background information that her ministry incorrectly sent to me reveals that the very first time her office knew about a data breach, it was stated, “Your office first became aware of this issue in the course of answering earlier written parliamentary questions from Dr Reti”?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If the member is asking whether or not the first time I was told that a ministry staff member autocompleted an email address and sent an email to the wrong person—yes, the first time I knew about that was then. I expect the member wouldn’t be surprised by that, though.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: How many data breaches have occurred in background information to written questions that have been incorrectly sent to me by her ministry?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Given you are the recipient of information, you would be better placed to answer that.

💬 SPEAKER: Well, the member would be anyway.

Question No. 12—Civil Defence

12. to the Minister of Civil Defence: What recent announcements has he made about the national emergency management system?

Last week, I announced the establishment of the new National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), from 1 December 2019, to replace the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management. Can I thank my predecessor, Minister Faafoi, for the hard work that he has done. I offer to the new agency the confidence of this House in the good work that NEMA does and will do into the future.

💬 Kiritapu Allan: Why was there a need to establish the National Emergency Management Agency?

💬 Hon PEENI HENARE: NEMA will provide strong national leadership, putting whānau and communities at the heart of our national emergency management system. This Government is committed to ensuring that all New Zealanders can rely on a system that supports them to reduce, get ready for, respond to, and recover from any emergency or disaster. Post significant events, a review was completed. The review found that while the system was fundamentally sound, it needs a number of improvements to meet today’s challenges. I am pleased that this Government has been able to deliver on its commitment to establish the new agency.