Oral Questions

1. Hon PAULA BENNETT (National—Upper Harbour) on behalf of to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government’s statements and actions?

Yes. I acknowledge that sometimes those statements and actions relate to things that are less so Government policy and more so the tragic events that we will face from time to time as nation. I am conscious of the fact that, whilst I’ve been in contact with the local MP, Anne Tolley, on the ground in Whakatāne, I haven’t yet had a chance to brief the leadership of the Opposition, and I am very open to answer any questions they may have.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: Thank you. Is she concerned that there are Kiwi families struggling with the rising cost of living, and that rents are up $55 a week?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: In answer to the first question, yes, of course, which is why when we first came into office we did make the decision not to proceed with the last Government’s plans of tax cuts across the board, and instead to focus on bringing in a $5.5 billion Families Package targeted at those very families that we hold concern over regarding the cost of living and low and middle income earners.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: What effect does she think increasing rents are having on poverty in New Zealand?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Of course, as I’ve said in this House many times before, housing costs are a concern for this Government, which is why we came in and were elected on a platform of stopping State house sell-offs and increasing State house builds, as we have. We are building more houses than any Government since the 1970s. We have increased transitional housing places. We’ve expanded Housing First, which is targeted at the homeless. I have seen some of the estimates put out by the Opposition on rents; I do just again acknowledge that the measurement that tends to be most frequently used is the one keeps out the outliers and instead takes in the rent increases, which have generated, roughly, on average, a $16 increase nationwide in the last year.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: When will we see the 18c to 32c a litre decrease in petrol prices that her Minister Kris Faafoi promised last week?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I don’t think that member is taking into account the full context of what the member would have been discussing at that time. Of course, references to the Commerce Commission report—which has demonstrated, I think, now on the public record, that our sentiment that New Zealanders were being fleeced by fuel prices in New Zealand has been held up and reinforced by the Commerce Commission. As a result, we are progressing changes which include more transparent wholesale pricing regimes, greater contractual freedoms to deal with competition issues, introducing an enforceable industry code of conduct, and improving transparency of premium grade fuel pricing. Those are just some of the initiatives that we believe will make a difference in the market.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: Will we see the 18c to 32c a litre petrol price drop before the election?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again, actually, I stand by the Minister’s work to actually address issues which exist and have existed—from my recollection the Commerce Commission have said, really, over the past decade we’ve seen these issues. I think everyone in this House would want to see New Zealanders paying a fair price for their fuel, so I look forward to the support of the Opposition as we progress that work.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: Will the Prime Minister drop the Auckland regional fuel tax, then, if she wishes to see petrol be lower?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again, that doesn’t demonstrate why, for instance, in many parts of the country you’ll see New Zealanders paying a price that is higher than what someone in Auckland who experiences the regional fuel tax does. That is inexplicable in many cases and one of the reasons we want to do this work.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: Has she considered taking off the regional fuel tax to decrease the price of petrol that she seems to be concerned about?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again, removing the Auckland fuel tax will not help people in regional New Zealand, who are often paying more than someone in Auckland will be.

💬 Hon Paula Bennett: Will petrol prices decrease, as we heard from her Minister Kris Faafoi last week, before the next election?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: That certainly seems to be the suggestion of the Commerce Commission report, and that’s why we’re undertaking and expediting that work as fast as we can.

💬 Jami-Lee Ross: Has her Government taken any action to condemn the excessive use of force by security forces against protesters in Iraq, which has seen hundreds of demonstrators killed in several parts of Iraq in recent weeks?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes. I have been advised that our ambassador in Iraq has directly raised New Zealand’s concerns over human rights breaches relating to the demonstrations, and they’ve done so directly with senior representatives of the Iraqi Government. I also thank the member for the question. This is the first time I’ve been directly asked about those demonstrations. I would, again, reiterate New Zealand’s position: that we are a nation that supports the right to protest and the right for people to be able to peacefully demonstrate without the use of excessive force.

💬 Jami-Lee Ross: Will the Government take any further steps to join with other nations—including Canada, France, the UK, the US, and the EU—in expressing further support for peaceful demonstrations in Iraq and opposing the use of deadly force against demonstrators?

💬 Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: In answering this question, I’m pleased to put on public record our position as a nation, which is, of course, in support of the ability of people to peacefully protest without, particularly, obviously, the use of potentially deadly force against demonstrators. I understand that many other nations have—under the banner of, for instance, the G20—made statements, and I put on record now New Zealand’s position, as we have done directly with officials in Iraq.

Question No. 2—Civil Defence

2. to the Minister of Civil Defence: What actions has the National Emergency Management Agency taken in response to the eruption on Whakaari / White Island?

on behalf of the Minister of Civil Defence: I would, first, like to say that all our thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected by yesterday’s tragic eruption on Whakaari / White Island. Since the eruption, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been coordinating the all-of-Government response to the eruption and ensuring that the focus is on keeping people and their welfare at the centre of the response. NEMA is currently supporting the Bay of Plenty Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group, who are leading the response at the regional level. NEMA has also activated the National Coordination Centre to enable it to better coordinate the collective response and is working closely with other agencies, including the Police, Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the New Zealand Defence Force, and GNS. I’d like to add to the Prime Minister’s words to acknowledge the courageous and dedicated work of our emergency services and first responders. We can all be extremely proud of their work.

💬 Rino Tirikatene: Who should people contact if their families are involved?

Again, I acknowledge the grief and sorrow that those impacted will be feeling. Anyone who wishes to submit information regarding family and loved ones who might have been visiting Whakaari / White Island during the eruption should call Police on 105. People from overseas can call the number that’s available on the Police website, which is +64 9 105 105. And that information is available on the Police website.

💬 Rino Tirikatene: What should people in the area do?

GNS have indicated that there is a 50 percent chance of another eruption in the next 24 hours, so people do need to remain vigilant. They need to be aware of the potential for ash fall if that were to occur. In those circumstances, they should consider staying indoors. Volcanic ash can be a health hazard, especially if you suffer from breathing difficulties. We encourage people to listen to the radio, television, or other sources of information for further assessments and updates. Detailed safety advice will come from local authorities and emergency services in their area, and people should act promptly on that advice.

Question No. 3—Finance

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

Yes, in the context in which they were undertaken and given.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: What financial assistance, if any, is the Government considering for the Bay of Plenty region following Whakaari / White Island’s eruption?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The member will appreciate that in the first 24 hours, the focus is on the recovery operation and ensuring that we look after all of the families involved. We will move to consider any economic impacts in the following days, and act accordingly.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: How is his Government working to ensure that the New Zealand economy is strong and resilient and able to cope with challenges thrown our way?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I thank the member for that question. That is the core focus of this Government. That is why we have adopted a very careful approach to fiscal management. It’s why we’ve taken on the wellbeing approach to putting our Budget together, which focuses on intergenerational issues. And it’s why we are continuing to make significant investments in our infrastructure, our hospitals, and our schools.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: Will he assure New Zealanders that before making any decisions on big infrastructure projects like closing the Ports of Auckland, which the Prime Minister suggested will happen, his Government will insist on rigorous independent advice on the costs and the benefit?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Yes.

💬 Hon Paul Goldsmith: When he said on the radio last night that there are still more questions to answer regarding moving the port, what are some of the questions he’s asking?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The Associate Minister of Transport will be making fuller announcements on these matters on Thursday, but I’m on the public record as having indicated that issues including transport logistics in Auckland, the impact on the wider region, and the overall environmental impacts are important ones for us to consider.

Question No. 4—Health

4. to the Minister of Health: Does he have confidence that the appointment process for the new district health board chairs was conducted in line with State Services guidelines, and that all candidates were aware of the expectations around the time commitment involved?

Can I start by acknowledging the outstanding efforts of the ambulance staff, doctors, nurses, and allied health workers that have been involved in the response to the eruption of Whakaari / White Island. I’m advised that, currently, we have patients, many in a critical condition, in a number of hospitals across the country, including Whakatāne, Tauranga, Waikato, Auckland, Middlemore, Hutt Valley, and Christchurch. I’m sure members on both sides of the House would join me in thanking our health services for their hard work, dedication, compassion, and professionalism. Returning to the member’s question, the answer is yes to both points.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: Can I endorse the Minister’s comments, and ask: were all candidates for DHB board appointments interviewed?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: All 76 board appointments were made to DHBs, with a further eight elected members appointed to chair and deputy roles. The Ministry of Health conducted a thorough appointment process, which included the—[Interruption]

💬 SPEAKER: Order!

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: —Director-General of Health talking one on one with each prospective chair about the requirements of the roles. The Ministry of Health gathered full CVs and conflict of interest declarations for all appointees.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: Did the new chair of the West Coast District Health Board make his time commitment clear in his interview?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Rick Barker has stated that the publicly attributed comments that he made were taken out of context. He has been clear to me in private and also in public that he is absolutely committed to doing his very best for the West Coast District Health Board. And it may interest the member to know that none of the five previous chairs of the West Coast District Health Board have lived on the West Coast at the time of their appointments.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: Did, in that commitment, he reassure the Minister that the role would involve more than a few emails and phone calls and a four- to six-weekly meeting?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Mr Barker has been clear that the comments that have been quoted in the media were taken out of context.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: Were all candidates for board positions advised of the outcome of the selection process prior to the Minister’s announcement?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: All candidates I appointed were written to before the announcements were made public.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question was not about all successful candidates. It was about all candidates.

💬 SPEAKER: Well, it was an answer; the question is whether the partial addressing is sufficient. I will ask the Minister to give a more fulsome answer.

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I can certainly be clear that all the candidates I appointed were written to before the announcements were made public. The detail of whether everybody who was not appointed was told beforehand is something I’m happy to look in to for the member.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: Were any of the unsuccessful candidates first advised informally by the Minister that they would be appointed, prior to the announcement being made on Saturday?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I have been very clear in every conversation with every member that I’ve spoken to that the appointments are the gift of Cabinet, and that I certainly made no promises about any appointments before Cabinet decisions were taken.

💬 Willow-Jean Prime: Can the Minister tell the House how many Māori appointments have been made to DHBs and how this compares with the appointments following the 2016 local body election?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: We all know that Māori have poorer health outcomes, and if we are to turn that around, it is vital that we have Māori serving in leadership and governance roles throughout our health service. So I am pleased to advise the House that we now have four Māori chairs of DHBs: Harry Burkhardt at Northland District Health Board, Jim Mather at Lakes District Health Board, Kim Ngarimu at Tairāwhiti District Health Board, and Shayne Walker at Hawke’s Bay District Health Board. No Māori chairs were appointed in 2016.

Question No. 5—Police

5. to the Minister of Police: What actions have the Police taken in response to the eruption on Whakaari / White Island?

First and foremost, all our thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected by yesterday’s tragic eruption on Whakaari / White Island. I especially want to acknowledge the families of those who were visiting from far away—Australia, the US, Great Britain, China, and Malaysia. We are doing everything we can to find your loved ones and support those who have survived. We grieve with you and we grieve with them. I’m advised that police were alerted at around 2.17 p.m. about the eruption on Whakaari / White Island, and immediately commenced a search and rescue operation. Police deployed resources to Whakatāne wharf, the local access point for the island. This was also where the first group of tourists reached the shore. Since those initial stages, police have deployed 25 additional staff to Whakatāne, including iwi and family liaison officers and the police disaster victim identification team. Thirty staff are also supporting this operation around the country. The Police Eagle helicopter was deployed to support the courageous immediate efforts by the rescue helicopter pilots and private operators. With the help of the rescue helicopters and the New Zealand Defence Force, aircraft have undertaken a number of reconnaissance flights over the island since the eruption. Police are working alongside the National Emergency Management Agency, or NEMA, to provide families with information as soon as it becomes available. Police have also set up dedicated phone numbers for both domestic and international callers, and have published information on their website. The bottom line is police are doing all they possibly can in what is a tragic and significant event. For now, our duty is to return loved ones to their families, and, as police have said, there is much more work to be done.

💬 Greg O’Connor: What actions have the police taken to support the families of victims following the eruption on Whakaari / White Island?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: Police’s role has been to coordinate the search and rescue operation, and now to recover those loved ones still on the island. I’m advised that police are currently working with the cruise ship operator and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to confirm the identities of those who are missing. Police will also be assigning a family liaison officer to the victims, survivors, and families of those who were on the island. At the request of Police, the New Zealand Red Cross has activated the family links website for people wanting to register themselves as safe, or register an inquiry about a loved one. Victim Support is also providing their assistance. The police disaster victim identification (DVI) team is assembling in Whakatāne—this team assists in the recovery and identification of human remains. Police have also accepted an offer from the Australian Federal Police to deploy one of their DVI teams. Police followed the international process of disaster victim identification. This does not rely solely on visual identification, as experience shows this can result in mistaken identity.

💬 Greg O’Connor: What reports has he seen about the support received by the New Zealand Police from other domestic and international agencies and organisations?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: I want to acknowledge the courageous local private helicopter operators and the pilots of the local rescue helicopter who were dispatched by St John under urgency. They were the first responders and risked their lives to get the survivors off the island. They really are true heroes. Police are currently being supported by numerous agencies on the ground, and I must acknowledge the support from the National Emergency Management Agency, the New Zealand Defence Force—who have made every asset available at Police request, including the HMNZS Wellington. I would also like to acknowledge local government officials in the Bay of Plenty, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, St John, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Coastguard, GNS Science, and the district health boards and their staff who were all hands-on in assisting victims and the police with their requests. The Australian Federal Police, the New South Wales Police Force, Work and Income, ACC, and Air New Zealand are also providing support to victims’ families. This is a major nationally coordinated operation, and everyone is playing their part. I would like to thank them all on behalf of the New Zealand Government.

Question No. 6—Local Government

6. to the Minister of Local Government: What advice, if any, has she received on the likely costs to ratepayers as a result of the Action Plan for Healthy Waterways including freshwater, storm water, and wastewater?

I, too, want to acknowledge the victims and all those that have been impacted at Whakaari / White Island. The Minister for the Environment is responsible for the Action Plan for Healthy Waterways. As Minister of Local Government, I have received advice from the Department of Internal Affairs on the estimated costs for councils complying with the standard that could be applied under the current National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, in relation to waste-water discharge.

💬 Hon Jacqui Dean: When she said, in answer to oral question No. 5 on 11 September, in relation to the freshwater programme, “I think we’ve come to a common ground about what the real pressure is in the cost space and how we can work through those issues.”, what is that real pressure and how much will it cost?

💬 Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: There are real costs, as alluded to in the oral question and response that I made in the House, and those costs—we undertook to gain greater clarity through a report which we commissioned to ensure that there was full visibility to the local government sector of upgrading drinking-water treatment plants as well as waste-water treatment plants. That had never been done before in the previous nine years. That’s why the conversation we’re having with local government about pending impacts of increased standards and how they respond to water service delivery is a very important conversation which they want to have.

💬 Hon Jacqui Dean: What advice has she received or sought on Gore District Council’s concern that the financial costs of meeting its obligations under the proposed freshwater rules may cost $60 million, which, based on 6,000 rateable properties, is more than $300 per household, per year, for 30 years?

💬 Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: In relation to the freshwater costs, those matters are for the Minister for the Environment, but what I can say to Gore is the cost of upgrading waste-water systems in Gore is a historical challenge that is unique. Gore has combined waste-water pipes—that is, sewerage and stormwater flow in the same pipes—and it means that untreated or partially treated sewage regularly flows into the Mataura River when it rains. Auckland is the only other place in the country with combined waste-water systems, and in both cases, it’s a significant challenge to overcome. Auckland has scale; Gore does not, so there are some very serious issues that Gore needs to respond to.

💬 Hon Jacqui Dean: Is she concerned that a town with a median income of $30,800, such as Gore, could be hit with an extra cost on the rates bill that could make living in Gore unaffordable for some people?

💬 Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: In relation to the pending costs that, in part, had been foreshadowed by Gore in their long-term plan, the need to upgrade waste-water treatment systems and separate the current combined system that they will have and look at different water service delivery arrangements will, in part, be the solution. But it will be difficult for them to respond by themselves. That is why I am encouraged by conversations that are happening across the country of councils working together to deal with these serious issues and the cost impacts of upgrading their treatment plants.

💬 Hon Jacqui Dean: Does she think that $300 per household, per annum, will also be reflected in a rising cost for rental properties across Gore?

💬 Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Those are matters of speculation, but I do know that there is real concern amongst many communities. When there’s a serious downpour, in a combined system you will have stormwater and waste water going directly into rivers, and that’s the kind of environment that nobody wants for their kids.

Question No. 7—Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media

7. to the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media: Does he stand by all the Government’s actions and policies in relation to the rollout of 5G technology and spectrum in New Zealand?

Yes.

💬 Melissa Lee: Why has there not been an auction for the rights to 5G spectrum this year when former broadcasting Minister the Hon Clare Curran tipped that there would be one by this year?

💬 Hon KRIS FAAFOI: The expressions of interest for the early allocation were put out earlier this year. As a result, the mobile network operators got into discussions with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, which pushed the time frame for the spectrum allocation and auction a little further than had been discussed earlier. But we’re still on plan to have that early allocation spectrum go live mid - next year.

💬 Melissa Lee: Why has he not yet resolved the outstanding iwi 5G spectrum claims that are holding up the roll-out of 5G technology across the country?

💬 Hon KRIS FAAFOI: An announcement on the make-up of the early allocation, including the iwi claims participation, is imminent.

💬 Melissa Lee: Does the Government plan to gift iwi an allocation of the 5G spectrum before any auction for rights for stakeholders can occur?

💬 Hon KRIS FAAFOI: The member will have to wait for that imminent announcement.

💬 Melissa Lee: Does he agree with Fran O’Sullivan, who said it “is a fundamental absurdity … we lumber on with technology that is fast becoming second world”, regarding the delay in the roll-out of 5G spectrum?

💬 Hon KRIS FAAFOI: No. I would note that only one operator as of this afternoon has managed to start its 5G service, and, globally, 5G roll-out is in its infancy. The 3.5 megahertz spectrum which we will allocate for the long-term allocation does not become free until November 2022. All the telcos involved know that and are awaiting our announcements around the early-access spectrum allocation and also the long-term allocation of spectrum. So all the telcos and mobile network operators know exactly what the time frame is.

Question No. 8—Defence

8. to the Minister of Defence: What actions is the New Zealand Defence Force taking to reflect its shift in focus to addressing climate change?

Firstly, I want to acknowledge all of the first responders and the families of the victims of the terrible tragedies unfolding at White Island and also the Defence Force personnel who are deployed right now in support. Yesterday, the Minister for Climate Change, the Hon James Shaw, and I announced the release of Responding to the Climate Crisis: An Implementation Plan, by Defence. This plan outlines a series of recommendations based on the climate crisis defence assessment released last December to assist the Defence Force in preparing for the effects that climate change will have on their activities, and the expected increased tempo of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations that we see coming down the pipeline. Actions Defence will be taking will include the deployment of capabilities to boost our regional response capacity and bringing in technology to help measure and reduce our own emissions, positioning New Zealand as a global leader in the military response to climate change.

💬 Golriz Ghahraman: What impacts of climate change are members of the Defence Force reporting while carrying out their work?

💬 Hon RON MARK: That’s a good question. The Defence Force are uniquely placed to observe the impacts of climate change. They operate in the natural environment at the rawest of levels on land, on the sea, and in the air, and they are very good at keeping records over many, many decades. They have observed the thinning and retreating of ice in the Antarctic continent, been exposed to increasing sea states and wave heights never encountered before in the Southern Ocean, and been responding to more frequent and more destructive weather events in the South Pacific. At home, sea level rises are increasingly affecting our coastal facilities in Auckland, such as at Devonport North Yard and at Ngātaringa Bay. On operations—be that Operation Wasawasa in Fiji; patrolling the Southern Ocean; monitoring illegal, unregulated, unreported fishing; or in responding to bushfires internationally—our soldiers, sailors, and airmen and women of our armed forces are encountering the changes in their climate and the effects on the environment every day they operate.

💬 Golriz Ghahraman: How will Defence’s actions help address the humanitarian implications of climate change in New Zealand’s Pacific neighbourhood?

💬 Hon RON MARK: The countries most vulnerable to the change in climate are those especially in the Pacific. They are often the least well-equipped to respond to those events and are not just vulnerable physically but they are vulnerable economically and financially. Reinforcing the Pacific Reset, the coalition Government has recognised our humanitarian obligation to assist our Pacific partners and to respond in the same way we would respond to similar activities in our own country. Under our Defence Capability Plan, we will make enhancements to the Defence Force that will boost our capability and our capacity to respond in the Pacific, including by increasing the army strength to 6,000 by 2035 to handle multiple operations simultaneously; by bringing on board enhanced sealift and airlift capabilities so we can move supplies, personnel, plant, and machinery for rescue and recovery operations; and we will be providing improved aerial surveillance and maritime domain awareness so that we are able to give more accurate, timely information reports, so that those who are responsible for planning Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) responses have accurate detail from which to do so.

💬 Golriz Ghahraman: How does this shift in focus by Defence support the Government’s commitment to tackling climate change?

💬 Hon RON MARK: Defence acknowledges that the impacts of climate change are accelerating and supports the work of wider New Zealand Government agencies in mitigating climate change. Defence aims to support the Government’s commitment in two ways: one, by ensuring that we have the capabilities required and the capacity to respond to an increasing number of search and rescue and HADR operations of increasing frequency and increasing destructiveness, and in particular ensuring that we can respond to concurrent activities, as we already have been doing. The second way is that Defence will undertake to use technology and to be more specific when it comes to drafting up specifications for platforms to ensure that, for example, platforms are able to run multi-fuels; that any barracks and facilities and bases we build will have a reduced, if not a neutral, carbon footprint; and that we operate in such a way as to minimise emissions ourselves.

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is the Minister saying that with vision and leadership recently with respect to the Pacific Reset and Defence, our Defence Force will be at the front line in meeting climate changes going into the future?

💬 SPEAKER: Leaving aside the additional material at the beginning, the rest of the question is fine.

💬 Hon RON MARK: I’m very proud to be able to report back to the House that New Zealand has—since I’ve been in the chair, we have been asked to chair and lead defence discussions on climate change and the consequences of it. What Singapore, Holland, France—just to name a few—have said is that the New Zealand Defence Force seems to understand clearly the correlation between climate change, environmental change, the consequential impacts on society, and, from that, particularly in nations where governance might be weak or tenuous, the propensity to create security problems, be that intra-State or inter-State. I think we should, actually, take some pride out of that.

Question No. 9—Regional Economic Development

9. to the Minister for Regional Economic Development: How much money from the Provincial Growth Fund has been received by projects approved for funding as at 30 September 2019 and, as at the same date, how many full-time jobs have been created in PGF-supported projects?

Reo Māori i te tuatahi. Nō te pakūtanga o te puia o Whakaari, ka heke mai te whanariki me te pūwerawera, he aroha ki te hunga kua riro, haere koutou, haere oti atu e.

[Māori language first. Once the volcano on Whakaari erupted, sulphur and extreme heat descended, condolences for those who have passed away, farewell to you, your time has ended, pass on.]

For the projects managed by the Provincial Development Unit, $297.5 million has been received by recipients. Of the $3 billion, over $1 billion has been held by other agencies such as the New Zealand Transport Agency, KiwiRail, and the Ministry for Primary Industries for the one billion trees. We have approved $1.8 billion, and $977 million has been contracted. Of the 1,922 positions, 616 are full-time and 1,091 are part-time. We have approved 463 projects.

💬 Chris Bishop: Does he think $482,000 per full-time job is good value for money, and if so, why?

💬 Hon SHANE JONES: The figure quoted is a static snapshot figure of the many projects that have been funded and have also been contracted. The member knows it will take a considerable period of time before the full benefit and the full employment complement will emerge.

💬 Chris Bishop: Does he have an estimate for the number of full-time jobs that will be created through the Provincial Growth Fund, and if so, what is it?

💬 Hon SHANE JONES: In the past, I have isolated and announced a figure over the full life of the fund which will stretch well into the next decade. The figure is 10,000.

💬 Chris Bishop: Does he have a measure of success for the Provincial Growth Fund in addition to full-time jobs, and if so, what is that measure of success?

💬 Hon SHANE JONES: It might interest the House to know that there will be two evaluations of the Provincial Growth Fund. The first one, short term, will be completed by the end of next year and it will measure the effectiveness of our activity against those indicators that Cabinet agreed to, which have already been publicly shared. Evaluating the full effects of the fund will take some time. In addition to numbers of jobs, I would point out the 6,000 young men and women known as NEETs through the Provincial Growth Fund and other sources of funding that have come into the world of light. Infrastructure resilience, social inclusion, and, indeed, Māori economic development are all indicators for this long-term investment strategy.

💬 Andrew Falloon: Can he confirm that the number of people employed or contracted by the Provincial Development Unit in the last 12 months has more than doubled, from 53 to 116, and is he concerned about this large increase in Wellington rather than in the regions?

💬 Hon SHANE JONES: The figure, no doubt, has been gained as a consequence of an open democratic process, otherwise known as the select committee process. We are talking about a sum of $3 billion. The fact that $3 billion has required the attention of 160-odd people is a mark of positive distinction.

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: By way of comparison, is it not a fact that that number is just twice the number in the Leader of the Opposition’s office?

💬 Hon SHANE JONES: Sir, the figures that you have quoted are not only correct but they’re not funded by the Provincial Growth Fund.

Question No. 10—Commerce and Consumer Affairs

10. to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: Does he stand by all his statements relating to the Commerce Commission study of the fuel sector?

Yes.

💬 Brett Hudson: In light of his reported claim that Government changes could bring down prices by 18c to 32c a litre, would he be surprised to learn that petrol companies currently have an average margin, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, of 25c a litre of which only 3.5c a litre is profit?

💬 Hon KRIS FAAFOI: My comments last Thursday following the release of the Commerce Commission report were a gauge of what has already happened when competition does come to town. The two examples that I used were, first, Gull, when they arrived in Wellsford, where they saw locally the petrol price drop by 18c per litre, and Waitomo, when they entered Upper Hutt, offered a price of 34c lower than when they arrived and, mysteriously, every other petrol company dropped their prices instantaneously. The overwhelming thing that came out of the Commerce Commission report was that the wholesale market isn’t set up in order for there to be good competition at the retail market, and we intend to do that.

💬 Brett Hudson: Is he aware that the retailer margin is what pays for the wages of people who work at petrol stations, and, if so, is he concerned that decreases in the margin could have an effect on jobs and wages?

💬 Hon KRIS FAAFOI: What I am concerned about is that the Commerce Commission had found that for about 10 years the margins that the petrol companies were receiving were well above what they thought they should have been in an effectively operating market, essentially meaning that New Zealanders were paying too much at the petrol pump.

💬 Brett Hudson: Isn’t the easiest way to drop prices and stop New Zealanders being fleeced at the pump to stop putting additional fuel taxes on New Zealanders?

💬 Hon KRIS FAAFOI: That question has already been asked of the Government today, but New Zealanders also like driving on modern and maintained roads.

💬 Brett Hudson: Which one of cancelling the regional fuel tax or introducing legislation to implement Commerce Commission recommendations would lead to petrol price decreases sooner?

💬 Hon KRIS FAAFOI: What would lead to petrol prices dropping for New Zealand consumers, who purchase about 7 billion litres of fuel, is a Government taking the issue seriously, the Commerce Commission looking into the issue, and then changing the law in order for the wholesale market, which has historically prevented competition in the retail market—and that is exactly what the Government will do.

💬 Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. You’ve indicated that we just lost two supplementary questions. What was that for?

💬 SPEAKER: Because two members interjected while Mr Hudson was asking his supplementary question—two members, including one right next to you.

Question No. 11—Health

11. to the Minister of Health: How is the health system responding to the tragedy at Whakaari / White Island?

All our thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected by yesterday’s eruption on Whakaari / White Island. Our focus since the tragedy has been on supporting the victims, their friends, and families. I do want to take this opportunity to thank all of those involved in the rescue effort, and particularly the first responders. The priority for the health system is to provide the best possible care and treatment to those injured by this incident. I’m advised that 31 people remain in hospital with injuries ranging from moderate to critical. DHBs and the Ministry of Health are working closely with a number of agencies to ensure our response is well coordinated.

💬 Angie Warren-Clark: How are district health boards working together to treat victims of the eruption?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: At times of emergency, we all rely on the skill and professionalism of our health services. The nature of this incident has required patients to be sent to DHBs across New Zealand so that they can get the best possible care, and burns treatment in particular. I can advise the House that currently we have patients in a number of hospitals across the country, including Whakatāne, Tauranga, Waikato, Auckland, Middlemore, Hutt Valley, and Christchurch. There are still some patients being transported between hospitals to ensure they receive treatment from the most appropriate healthcare team. The numbers at each hospital may, therefore, change during the day.

💬 Angie Warren-Clark: What is being done to help support people who might be experiencing mental distress following the eruption?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The last 24 hours have been incredibly traumatic for all involved—victims, their friends and families, tourism operators, first responders, and the wider community. DHBs and the Ministry of Health are working closely with Victim Support, Red Cross, and other agencies to ensure there is appropriate psychosocial support in place. We want to make sure there is appropriate support in place for everyone, and I would remind the House that the Need to Talk? 1737 service and helpline are available all day, every day.

Question No. 12—Immigration

12. to the Minister of Immigration: Is he satisfied that representations by prominent people supporting visa applications are dealt with in an appropriate and transparent manner?

I wish to join parliamentary colleagues in acknowledging the victims of the eruption at Whakaari / White Island, as well as their families and friends. I can advise the House that the immigration response structure has been activated. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) border facilitation is on standby to assist relatives of victims who wish to travel to New Zealand, and INZ is ready to assist victims and their families in any way they can. In answer to the member’s question, yes, there are longstanding processes and practices to ensure that representations of support for visa applications by any supporters are dealt with appropriately. The prominence of supporters is irrelevant; everyone is treated equally and fairly.

💬 Stuart Smith: By what methods did the Hon Kris Faafoi contact the office of his Associate Minister of Immigration in support of the application of Mr Mich Obadiah?

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will now phrase his question in a way which includes the responsibility of the Minister, without an assertion that has not been established.

💬 Stuart Smith: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I draw your attention to Speakers’ rulings 152/5, 153/1, and 153/2. The Minister transferred these questions—or the Government did, which they have a right to—but they don’t have a right to do that if the Minister is not in a position to answer the question, nor—

💬 SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will resume his seat. I’ve ruled on the matter. There are areas which some ministerial responsibility has to be established for and, in particular, in this particular case, the member made an assertion for which he has provided no evidence.

💬 Stuart Smith: By what methods did the Hon Kris Faafoi contact the office of the Associate Minister of Immigration regarding the application of Mr Mich Obadiah?

💬 SPEAKER: Right, well that was the second failure. The member can try again if he wants to.

💬 Stuart Smith: Very well. Have any other Government Ministers who have contacted the Minister’s office or the Associate Minister’s office regarding requests for special assistance for visa applications?

💬 Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: Sorry, could the member ask the question again, please?

💬 SPEAKER: I think, if he could leave out the word “other”, you’d probably get it in order.

💬 Stuart Smith: Have any Government Ministers who have contacted the Minister’s office or Associate Minister’s office regarding requests for special assistance for visa applications?

💬 Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: I’m sorry, Mr Speaker. I just don’t think the question makes sense.

💬 SPEAKER: It does actually make sense if one thinks about it carefully. It’s pretty simple: have any Ministers made representations either to the Minister or to Associate Ministers’ offices with regard to visa applications?

💬 Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: Yes, it’s a core role of every member of Parliament.

💬 Stuart Smith: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I quite clearly said “Ministers” not “members of Parliament” per se.

💬 SPEAKER: And one of the things we’ve established pretty clearly in this House is that Ministers are members of Parliament and they have a—[Interruption] Order! They have a variety of roles. I think what we’ve also established is that when they make representations in this particular type of representation—because some of us have had a long history of watching these matters, including a bit over a decade ago—people do make representations for constituents and for others.

💬 Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It would be ridiculous for us to assume that the question might have been trying to make a separation that said a Minister wasn’t a member of Parliament, but it is not ridiculous to ask if someone who is a Minister makes a representation—quite a different thing. You can’t have—

💬 SPEAKER: Sorry, that question was answered. He said yes.

💬 Hon Gerry Brownlee: OK, that’s fine.

💬 Stuart Smith: One more is it?

💬 SPEAKER: Well, depending on whether you want to use another couple or have them off tomorrow.

💬 Stuart Smith: Did the Hon Kris Faafoi ask his Associate Minister of Immigration to grant Mr Mich Obadiah a visa?

💬 Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: I’m advised that neither Immigration New Zealand nor the Associate Minister has any record of any representations or involvement by any member of Parliament in relation to Mr Obadiah’s case.