Oral Questions

1. to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she agree with the new Children’s Commissioner, Frances Eivers, that “In a country with the resources of Aotearoa every mokopuna, no matter their background, should grow up in a whānau that has what they need to thrive”?

on behalf of the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Yes, I do agree with Judge Eivers. This is why this Government has set ambitious child poverty targets, which over a 10-year period aim to reduce the rates of measured child poverty by more than half. We have made good progress. Figures released in February showed 45,400 fewer children in low-income households were experiencing poverty. Since then, the Government has raised main benefits and increased family tax credits. These measures are estimated to lift around 33,000 more children out of poverty. We have also made progress on building more homes and put more lunches into schools throughout New Zealand. There is no silver bullet to fixing the long-term challenge that is child poverty, but we are committed to addressing it and we are making progress.

💬 Jan Logie: Does she stand by her comment, in relation to the warrant to arrest sanctions applied to 4,000 families last year, that she would remove them today if she could, and, if so, why is it taking so long to remove the sanction?

💬 Hon JAN TINETTI: The Government is working through the welfare advisory group report, but we can’t do everything at the same time. We have prioritised lifting incomes and resetting the foundations of the welfare system so that we can begin a much overdue overhaul. However, work on removing sanctions is our medium-term work programme and it has begun. We have already removed two sanctions, which is making a big difference to benefit recipients with children, and further policy work is happening and announcements will be made soon.

💬 Jan Logie: Will she commit to removing the up to 13-week stand-down and non-entitlement periods for people who become unemployed for any reason, to provide the same unconditional support as people who have left their jobs because they choose not to meet the vaccination mandate?

💬 Hon JAN TINETTI: There are always one to two weeks stand-downs when someone first applies for a main benefit. I am advised by the Ministry of Social Development that if a person was in a role before the vaccination requirement was introduced, the introduction of the vaccination requirement would be considered a significant change in conditions of employment, making the employment no longer suitable. This would generally be considered a sufficient reason for voluntary unemployment and therefore a 13-week non-entitlement period would not be imposed. Stand-downs will be reviewed as part of our long-term welfare system overhaul. But if someone does leave their main job for no valid reason or limited valid reason, then that is where a 13-week stand-down will apply.

💬 Jan Logie: Does she think it’s fair that 30,000 low-income families are being asked to pay back $20 million in Working for Families credits, not because they did anything wrong but because of systems failures that have left them facing repayment obligations for money they no longer have on hand?

💬 Hon JAN TINETTI: I don’t have that figure in front of me at this particular point in time. But if the member would like to put that in writing, I’m sure that the Minister will be able to answer that—for the figure.

💬 Jan Logie: How do her responses address the concerns of the former Children’s Commissioner Becroft, who said in relation to welfare reform, “successive governments have resisted transformation, instituting only incremental change. Sadly, that has ended up serving the protection of the system rather than the needs of children and young people—especially mokopuna Māori.”?

💬 Hon JAN TINETTI: We actually agree that the welfare system is complex and we are committed to addressing its complexity. Currently, there is work happening to update the welfare system, but it will take some time as it is an incredibly big job. Alongside this, the Government is undertaking a review of Working for Families. We’ll release more information on this in due course.

Question No. 2—Energy and Resources

2. to the Minister of Energy and Resources: How is the Government supporting the creation of hydrogen refuelling stations?

The Government is committed to New Zealand’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Hydrogen will be a key part of this transition. Green hydrogen will help reduce global emissions, reduce New Zealand’s dependence on overseas energy sources, create significant export revenue, and create new jobs. This is why we’re investing in Hiringa Energy’s plan to establish a green hydrogen refuelling network. The project will see four high-capacity green hydrogen production and refuelling stations installed in the key logistic hubs in the North Island and will provide 100 percent refuelling coverage across the North Island freight routes. We’re also funding the TR Group, one of New Zealand’s largest freight fleet operators, who will receive $6 million to purchase up to 20 heavy-freight hydrogen trucks to lease to its customers.

Tāmati Coffey: Why is the Government supporting the development of hydrogen as a fuel?

💬 Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Green hydrogen is one of the platforms that can help us reduce our emissions. New Zealand has considerable renewable energy resources that could be used to produce hydrogen as a next-generation fuel in a sustainable way. Green hydrogen is a potential solution for some harder to decarbonise sectors such as long-distance and heavy transport; iron, steel, and chemical production; and the maritime and aviation sectors. We will continue to invest to support the use and availability of hydrogen while ensuring the current regulatory settings are fit for purpose as critical in facilitating the safe introduction of new hydrogen technologies in New Zealand.

Tāmati Coffey: What broader work is the Government undertaking to support the development of a hydrogen industry in New Zealand?

💬 Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: The Government is working with business to support various early stage hydrogen projects. This includes providing funding to Ports of Auckland and Auckland Transport to purchase a New Zealand - built hydrogen bus and working with Hyundai to deploy a fleet of medium-duty hydrogen trucks. We’re also investing in several hydrogen research initiatives, including working with Scion to understand how hydrogen can be produced from biomass and with First Gas to identify how hydrogen can be used as part of their gas network.

Question No. 3—Prime Minister

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

on behalf of the Prime Minister: Yes. In particular, I stand by this Government’s decision to accelerate Māori vaccination rates, which has seen the Government approve over $46 million to support efforts of the DHBs and providers to reach that 90 percent double-vaccinated target. This includes initiatives to excite and inform rangatahi Māori, in particular, through TikTok, kapa haka, and music, as well as further support to those on the ground who are knocking on the doors and helping to get vaccines administered. Solid progress has been made in the past month, with Māori vaccination rates now reaching 78 percent first dose, and double doses following close behind. We know that there’s more work to do, and we’ll continue to support that work on the ground.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: Has she seen data from Waka Kotahi that in the month of December, State Highway 1 south of Auckland averages 60,000 cars a day, and, if so, what advice has she received about how many cars police are expecting to stop and check for vaccine certificates every day under her summer travel restrictions?

On behalf of the Prime Minister: yes, we have seen traffic modelling around the level of movement in and out of Auckland in regular times, when there aren’t COVID-19 restrictions in place. We’ve been very clear with the police that the level of spot-checking—how many cars they choose to spot-check—is, of course, a matter for the police to determine.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: When she said yesterday that spot checks would take place at the point of departure, does that mean that all spot checks for southbound traffic will need to take place, for example, on the road immediately south of the Auckland border?

Where spot checks take place will be a matter for the police to determine.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: Can she confirm that Cabinet received advice that the option of random spot checks they selected could add three hours to the journey south of State Highway 1, and, if not, how many hours’ delay will it cause?

The Cabinet received a range of advice on the potential disruption to travel journeys that checking vaccination could cause. It will ultimately be determined by the extent of spot-checking that takes place, and that will be an operational matter for the police to determine.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: What was the longest number of hours that spot-check delays could cause, in the Cabinet papers he’s just described?

From memory, if we were to check every person travelling in and out of Auckland, those delays could be very extensive—i.e., more than 12 hours. However, that is not the decision that the Cabinet has taken.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: What advice has she received, if any, on the number of police officers who will be needed each day to implement the stop and check system she announced yesterday?

Again, that’s an operational matter for the New Zealand Police to determine.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: When she said yesterday that the system will apply until 17 January, does that mean people will be allowed to travel in and out of Auckland freely after then?

Yes.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: Is it her expectation that the announced travel arrangement over Christmas will prevent the spread of COVID out of Auckland, and, if not, what advice has she received about the average number of cases that are expected to cross the border each day under this system?

In answer to the first part of the question: no. In answer to the second part of the question: it is designed to slow the rate of spread of COVID-19 out of Auckland.

Question No. 4—COVID-19 Response

4. to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: What steps is the Government taking to protect the South Island from COVID19?

Yesterday, we confirmed the whole country will shift to the COVID-19 Protection Framework shortly after Cabinet’s final decision on 29 November, as part of our new strategy to minimise and protect against COVID-19. The Government’s worked extremely hard to get as many people vaccinated as possible, and South Islanders have responded strongly. As a result, they’re well placed to enjoy the additional protections and freedoms offered by the traffic light system. Canterbury and Southern DHBs have both passed the 90 percent first dose threshold at 94 and 92 percent respectively, and they’ve reached 83 and 84 percent fully vaccinated. South Canterbury needs just another 417 people, as of midnight last night, to get to 90 percent first doses, while Nelson Marlborough needs 935 more doses to reach that marker. Both of those DHBs are sitting at around 81 percent of people fully vaccinated. So this is good progress, and I encourage all South Islanders to keep up the good work, and for those who are fully vaccinated to request their My Vaccine Pass.

💬 Rachel Boyack: What protection is the Government putting in place for travel to the South Island?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: We’ve given careful consideration to additional protections for entry to the South Island. Yesterday, the Prime Minister and I announced that we’ll be enabling interisland ferries to require proof of vaccination or a negative pre-departure test in order to travel between Wellington and Picton. That’ll complement Air New Zealand’s recently announced requirement of a vaccine certificate or a test before taking a domestic flight from 15 December. The combination of these measures means that all of the entry points to the South Island will be well covered by checks to help reduce that spread in the South.

💬 Rachel Boyack: What are the best things South Islanders can do to protect themselves from COVID-19?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: As we shift to the strategy of minimisation and protection, all South Islanders do need to understand that COVID-19 could soon make its way into their community. However, the traffic light system is safer than the alert level system in the context of a more highly vaccinated population. For example, currently in a region at alert level 2, everyone can go to a hospitality setting, vaccinated or not, with the level 2 restrictions of seated or separated. However, at the red level on the new framework, you’ll also have to be vaccinated. That adds an extra layer of protection. In addition, there’s plenty that people can do to protect themselves and their friends and their whānau, number one being: get vaccinated. That is the single best thing anyone can do to protect themselves and others from the virus. They can encourage others to get vaccinated, they can request their vaccine passes, and, of course, they can continue to follow those simple public health measures, like washing their hands, wearing a mask, and scanning in.

Question No. 5—Housing (Public Housing)

5. to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing): Does she stand by the Minister of Housing’s statement regarding healthy homes standards that “the tribunal will apply a degree of pragmatism and consideration and be reasonable”; if so, is she saying that the Tenancy Tribunal won’t enforce the law?

In answer to the first part of the member’s question, yes. The Government acknowledges the difficulty some landlords have experienced complying with the healthy homes standards due to the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions. In the event of alleged non-compliance with healthy homes standards, I’m advised that each case will be assessed on its own merits, and the reasons for non-compliance, including disruptions caused by COVID alert levels, are taken into account by the tribunal. There is a longstanding convention that Ministers don’t comment directly on the judiciary’s decision-making process.

Brooke van Velden: Has she asked the tribunal to be lenient with landlords who will not be able to comply with healthy homes standards due to COVID restrictions, and, if not, how can she assume that they will be?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I expect that the public interest test will be applied. If a landlord’s genuine attempts to comply with the healthy homes standards in the context of the challenges caused by COVID-19 alert level restrictions—it would be unlikely to be in the public interest for enforcement action to be taken. But I just want to remind the member, it is a longstanding convention that Ministers don’t comment directly on the judiciary’s decision-making process.

Brooke van Velden: If the tribunal is going to enforce the law, why doesn’t the Government simply extend the deadlines for compliance for landlords and make the law clear for New Zealanders wanting to do the right thing?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: It’s my understanding that the vast majority of landlords have already complied, and those who haven’t yet are most likely impacted by the restrictions caused by COVID-19 alert levels. It’s my expectation that those cases will be treated by the tribunal based on the facts that are presented to the tribunal.

Brooke van Velden: Does the advice from officials on this matter, that she will not release because she doesn’t believe it’s in the public interest to do so at this time, recommend that the Minister should extend deadlines for healthy homes standards compliance by changing the law?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: The advice was that it would not be possible to extend compliance deadlines in a way that assists the vast majority of landlords, and including those whose compliance deadlines have already passed. When compliance with the healthy homes standards within the deadline proves impractical due to COVID-19 restrictions, and particularly alert level 4, I’m advised that it’s unlikely to be in the public interest for enforcement action to be taken. I understand that my officials have communicated this to sector groups in recent days, and I plan on contacting them directly as well.

Question No. 6—Digital Economy and Communications

6. to the Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications: What work is the Government doing regarding connectivity around New Zealand?

on behalf of the Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications: I am pleased to say the Government is making significant progress on improving connectivity for all New Zealanders. As part of the continuing ultra-fast broadband fibre roll-out, nearly 1.8 million homes and businesses have fibre available to them, across 327 cities and towns, with 66 percent uptake so far. Five hundred and sixteen marae are now connected to the internet as part of the marae connectivity initiative, over 68,000 rural homes and businesses have access to improved wireless broadband services, 902 kilometres of State highway now have mobile phone coverage under the mobile black spot initiative, and 72 tourist sites have coverage they did not have before. These initiatives are already providing better coverage around all regions of the country, but we must be realistic. There is still much more to be done, including nearly $48 million in rural capability upgrades to improve coverage to rural areas where congestion is currently an issue.

💬 Melissa Lee: How will the Government work to ensure New Zealand households in—in the Minister’s own words—“the worst connected parts of New Zealand” can access digital and telehealth services while they continue to have congested and unsuitable internet connections during lockdown and COVID-19 reaches into rural New Zealand communities?

Well, that member will be aware that, in our manifesto, actually, we set aside $60 million to improve digital connectivity for some of the most hard to find regions, and I’m talking about the Manawatū, Whanganui, rural areas of Auckland, Otago, Gisborne, the Hawke’s Bay, the West Coast, Taranaki, rural areas of Wellington, and the Wairarapa. It is purely coincidence that nearly every single one of those rural areas is held by a Labour MP.

💬 Hon Louise Upston: Does he believe it is acceptable that 90 percent of New Zealand farmers, as reported in the 2021 Dairy New Zealand The view from the cow shed, have seen no improvement to their digital connectivity; and, if not, what work is he doing to provide them with a digital future?

Well, we absolutely live in paradise. One of the down sides of living in paradise is that we’re a long, narrow country, where, in many parts of our countryside, there are more sheep than people. However, as mentioned, there is always more work to do, and we are doing more work and we’re coming up with innovative solutions to get wireless to the farm gate.

💬 Hon Louise Upston: Is the Minister content that rural households like the Beswick family of Tokanui are living with no mobile reception on their property and facing worries about medical emergencies for their three daughters; and, if not, how will the Government work to get them the connectivity they and rural New Zealanders need?

I have no idea where that family lives. If the member wants to put that down in writing, I’m sure the Minister will reply.

💬 Melissa Lee: Will the Government immediately work to act on all recommendations in the 2021 Dairy New Zealand The view from the cow shed report to ensure that we unlock all of the benefits that digital opportunities offer for the people of New Zealand and that rural New Zealanders can be adequately prepared for the future of COVID-19 in our country; if not, why not?

I think the best thing we can do to prepare rural New Zealand for COVID-19 is to make sure that they are absolutely all vaccinated. But, having said that, we consult regularly with Dairy NZ, from the Prime Minister down, and so be assured that conversations are being had.

💬 Melissa Lee: Point of order. It is quite obvious that the Minister hasn’t actually read Dairy NZ’s The view from the cow shed. So I seek leave to table this document, because it might actually help him. Perhaps he could read it finally.

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: Is that publicly available? I believe it is. I think the member knows very well that’s out of order.

💬 Maureen Pugh: Will the Minister commit to investing in rural communities like Dunollie, on the West Coast, that want to use a cellphone in the event of an emergency or natural disaster but have to drive many kilometres; if so, when will he address their current mobile connectivity issue?

Dunollie is a very interesting case, actually. I would note that Spark, 2degrees, and Vodafone are all currently providing service coverage to the Dunollie area. I’m advised that Crown Infrastructure Partners is carrying out a drive test in Dunollie to see what the actual coverage is like on the ground. But I would just like to reiterate that we care deeply about provincial and rural New Zealand, and we continue to work with them to find solutions to their issues.

💬 Melissa Lee: I seek leave to table an aide memoire on rural connectivity dated 11 August, released to my office yesterday under the Official Information Act (OIA), which, I don’t believe, is actually publicly available. So I thought maybe perhaps it could be helpful to all of the members.

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: Sorry, in whose name?

💬 Melissa Lee: Aide memoire on rural connectivity dated 11 August 2021, released to my office yesterday by the Minister under the OIA.

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that document to be tabled. Is there any objection? There appears to be none. It may be tabled.

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

💬 Kieran McAnulty: Will he commit to coming to the Tararua district in the Wairarapa electorate, in which this Government has funded nine new mobile towers, significantly increasing access to rural broadband, and hearing the difference—

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question has been asked.

It would be my absolute pleasure to come to the Tararua district, and what I’ll do when I get there is I’ll give the member a bell on my mobile and we’ll jack up a time.

Question No. 7—Police

7. to the Minister of Police: What recent reports has she seen regarding Police’s efforts to disrupt organised crime?

I’ve seen reports that the joint police and customs operation, Selena, has resulted in 14 people charged with a range of drug offences and $500,000 seized while shutting the door on a large-scale methamphetamine-smuggling ring. Police and customs staff established that several baggage handlers at Auckland Airport have allegedly been involved in smuggling methamphetamine since the beginning of this year. Over the course of the year, it’s believed that the group has or have conspired to smuggle close to 500 kilograms of methamphetamine into New Zealand. This group was also allegedly involved in a failed smuggling attempt of 200 kilograms of methamphetamine that was intercepted at the Malaysian border in October, which was destined for New Zealand. I am sure all members of this House will join me in congratulating police and customs for their fantastic work keeping us safe.

💬 Ginny Andersen: What other recent actions have police taken to disrupt organised crime and the illicit drug trade?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: On Tuesday, I advised the House that Operation Mist had resulted in the seizure of more than 50 kilograms of cocaine, nine individuals arrested, and $300,000 in cash, cocaine, and cryptocurrency wallets seized, disrupting one of the major cocaine importing rings in New Zealand. Operation Freya dismantled a sophisticated drug-dealing and smuggling operation, making 12 arrests and seizing $8 million worth of drugs in the process. Police are striking real blows against organised crime and the supply of illicit drugs.

💬 Hon Member: Oh, no one believes that.

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Why do you hate police?

💬 Ginny Andersen: How is the Government supporting police in their efforts to disrupt organised crime?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: This Government has put a record number of police on the front line, including those with a specific focus on organised crime, and the result of this investment continues to pay off. Already, the Government has seized $500 million in cash and assets from gangs and criminals in four years alone. Translated, that’s the equivalent of $1.6 billion removed from the illicit economy, an economy that profits from criminal offending and exploiting our communities.

💬 Simeon Brown: Has the Minister seen reports of $2.75 million being spent from the proceeds of crime fund to Mongrel Mob member Harry Tam for a drug rehab programme?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: As I’ve repeatedly told that member, the lead agency on that programme was the Ministry of Health.

Question No. 8—Rural Communities

8. to the Minister for Rural Communities: Does he believe that rural communities have been properly advocated for and listened to by the Government?

on behalf of the Minister for Rural Communities: Yes, this Government listens to, and advocates for, New Zealand’s rural communities. Members of this Government constantly meet with members of rural communities and their leaders, farmers, and sector leaders, and will continue to do so. I do note that the Farming Leaders Group is one of the most frequently met with groups by the Prime Minister. Rural communities are at the heart of this Government’s priorities of securing New Zealand’s economic recovery and rising to the challenge of climate change and sustainability.

💬 Mark Cameron: Does he believe adequate consultation was undertaken with rural communities prior to the Government announcing an increased nationally determined contribution (NDC) and global methane pledge at COP26?

There was significant consultation right across the country with regard to the NDC, of which our rural communities were a very important part.

💬 Mark Cameron: Has he met with the representatives of Groundswell, the movement for farmers and rural communities across New Zealand?

On behalf of the Minister: I’m not too sure what Groundswell stands for these days. It’s a mixture of—

💬 Mark Cameron: If you guys listened.

Well, that is based on what I’ve read on their website, and it’s a mixture of racism, anti-vax, etc., etc. But we will continue to meet with farming leaders and engage in rural communities as and when appropriate.

💬 Mark Cameron: Will he be advocating for Government Ministers to meet the representatives of Groundswell to hear their concerns about the Government policies?

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Just before I call the Hon Stuart Nash, the level of speaking during the asking of questions is loud on both sides. Let’s make the next one silent.

My advice to that member would be when he’s at a Groundswell rally, make sure he doesn’t get a photo taken beside someone holding up an anti-vax sign.

💬 Mark Cameron: Point of order. If I may, with respect, the question was quite clear: will he be advocating for Government Ministers to meet the representatives of Groundswell to hear their concerns about the Government’s policies?

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: And my understanding of what the Minister said was quite emphatic. I’m pretty sure he meant “no”.

💬 Mark Cameron: Point of order. Respectfully, he was talking about anti-vaxxers, not about Groundswell members.

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: Have you finished?

Question No. 9—Women

9. to the Minister for Women: What progress has she seen on closing the gender pay gap in the Public Service?

I’m pleased to inform the House that the Public Service gender pay gap is the lowest it’s ever been at 8.6 percent, down from 9.6 percent last year. This is a great result given that the gap was 18.6 percent when the measurement first began in 2000. When this Government came into office, we instigated the 2018 Public Service Gender Pay Gap Action Plan, and, as a direct result of this work, we have seen the gap decrease by a third in three years. This shows that with strong partnerships between Government, the Public Service, and unions positive change is achievable. As the Minister for Women, I do want to be clear, however, that no pay gap is acceptable to me, but I am very pleased to see we are heading in the right direction to close it and correct the imbalance.

💬 Sarah Pallett: What further work is under way to continue to close the gender pay gap in the Public Service?

💬 Hon JAN TINETTI: While the Māori, Pacific, and Asian pay gaps have also narrowed, there are still clearly great inequities for these women. The pay gap for Māori has narrowed in the last year from 9.3 percent to 8.3 percent, the pay gap for Pasifika has fallen from 19.5 percent to 17.9 percent, and the Asian pay gap has come down from 12.8 percent to 11.6 percent, but more work is needed on the ethnic imbalance to close the pay gap. This is why I’ve launched Kia Toipoto, a three-year action plan to tackle gender and ethnic pay gaps, and Te Orowaru, a new pay equity work assessment tool that helps recognise the value of cultural skills in work, including te reo Māori. These two initiatives will support the Public Service to continue to close the gender pay gap and to accelerate gains for Māori, Pacific, and ethnic communities.

💬 Sarah Pallett: What initiatives have been progressed in the last four years that have contributed to closing the gender pay gap?

💬 Hon JAN TINETTI: Under Labour, New Zealand has made significant progress towards gender equality. In addition to the progress we’ve made on closing the gender pay gap, we’ve passed the Equal Pay Amendment Act, enshrining in law the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. This is delivering significant pay increases for female-dominated workforces and to make sure women are paid fairly. We’ve also settled significant pay equity claims. We’ve achieved the highest ever representation of women in several important areas, including reaching our target of 50 percent of women in public sector boards and 53 percent in public sector senior leadership roles. We’ve increased paid parental leave from 22 to 26 weeks; through MP Ginny Andersen’s member’s bill, we’ve introduced miscarriage and domestic violence leave; we’ve reintroduced the training incentive allowance; and we’ve achieved the highest ever recorded rate of female employment.

Question No. 10—Housing (Public Housing)

10. to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing): Does she stand by her statement that Kāinga Ora “do not have a no-evictions policy”; if so, why haven’t there been any evictions for more than three and a half years?

To the first part of the member’s question, yes. Since April 217, Kāinga Ora and its predecessor agency, Housing New Zealand, have had a sustainable tenancies policy. Kāinga Ora has a number of tools at its disposal to deal with disruptive behaviour. If an issue occurs, Kāinga Ora engages with its tenants in a household action plan, and works with them on this plan. This is focused on providing wraparound support and connecting them with other agencies. Kāinga Ora has also developed an intensive tenancy management service to provide tailored support to tenants with high and complex needs. Eviction is a last resort, and Kāinga Ora has, where necessary, relocated tenants. I’ve advised the House earlier this week that 159 households have been relocated in the past 12 months.

💬 Nicola Willis: How can she say Kāinga Ora do not have a no-evictions policy when Kāinga Ora has provided statements to the Tenancy Tribunal that it has “purposefully chosen a policy of seeking to preserve and not terminate tenancies” and its policy “was not to issue 90-day notices, nor to terminate tenancies”?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: As I’ve already said, there is a no-evictions policy. What we do have is a sustainable tenancies policy—a policy that has been in place since the last National Government.

💬 Nicola Willis: What steps, if any, has she taken to address a ruling by the Tenancy Tribunal that Kāinga Ora’s no-evictions policy has led Kāinga Ora to breach its obligations as a landlord under the Residential Tenancies Act, with the tribunal determining that “This is clearly a situation that cannot continue.”?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I have no knowledge of that particular case. I invite the member to put that in writing and submit it to my office.

💬 Nicola Willis: Which does she believe Kāinga Ora should make the priority: their legal obligation as a landlord to protect its tenants from unreasonable interference from other tenants or her policy not to terminate tenancies?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I’ve always said that it is our absolute responsibility to ensure that tenants are safe and can live in safe housing. What I do know is that Kāinga Ora have a range of tools at their disposal, including something they have used this year, which is transfers, which they have used quite successfully. I encourage the member, when she has situations that occur like this, to ensure that Kāinga Ora are fully advised and encouraged to support those tenants, and, at the very outset, encouraged to use all of the mechanisms at their disposal.

💬 Nicola Willis: Will she direct Kāinga Ora to end the policy banning State house evictions, or is she satisfied with the situation where Kāinga Ora continues to break the law by allowing its tenants to terrorise innocent New Zealanders?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: An eviction is a very specific process and it involves the Tenancy Tribunal and ending a tenancy with a court bailiff taking possession of property. This Government is committed to sustaining tenancies, the policy that has been in place since the National Government.

Question No. 11—Health

11. to the Associate Minister of Health: What recent announcements has she made about contact tracing and case management?

Contact tracing and isolation remain key public health tools that can help minimise the spread of COVID-19. As we move into the next phase of our response to the pandemic, it makes sense to update our contact tracing categories and isolation rules in account of the impact of vaccination. Earlier this week, I announced changes that will mean people who are fully vaccinated will spend less time isolating if they get COVID-19 or are a close contact of a case.

💬 Dr Tracey McLellan: What are the new isolation requirements for fully vaccinated cases?

💬 Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: If you’re fully vaccinated and catch COVID-19, by day 10 of infection you’ll pose a very low risk of passing on the virus. That’s because the amount of viral genetic material declines faster in fully vaccinated people. So the isolation period for fully vaccinated COVID-19 cases in the community is reducing from 14 to 10 days and must include 72 hours symptom-free. The isolation period for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated COVID-19 cases will remain 14 days, including 72 hours symptom free. For fully vaccinated close contacts, they will need to self-isolate for seven days, while partially vaccinated or unvaccinated close contacts will be required to self-isolate for 10 days. Household contacts will isolate for 10 days regardless of vaccination status because this group is at highest risk of contracting the virus. These changes reflect the different transmission dynamics of the Delta variant.

💬 Dr Tracey McLellan: What changes have been made to contact tracing categories?

💬 Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: Analysis of the Delta outbreak found very little evidence of transmission in the casual plus category. Preliminary analysis of data shows only 0.1 percent of casual plus interactions, such as being in the same supermarket as a COVID-19 case, resulted in infections. So, in the future, this category will be used in a narrow range of circumstances. Keeping the contact tracing categories as they were would’ve resulted in some people being identified as contacts when the data now tells us they’re at very, very low risk. These changes will reduce the burden on individuals, businesses, and the community while keeping people safe.

Question No. 12—Police

12. to the Minister of Police: Is she satisfied with how Police resources are being allocated in response to the demand for Police services; if so, why?

I am satisfied that this Government has invested over $450 million in our police, and, as a result of this investment, the total police workforce now surpasses 14,000, with over 1,200 additional constabulary and authorised officers on the streets. I’m also satisfied that we are well on track to deliver 1,800 new police—including 700 to be focused on organised crime—by June 2023. Ultimately, the deployment and allocation of police staff and resources is a matter for the Commissioner of Police and local district commanders. I have full confidence in them to make these decisions.

💬 Simeon Brown: How many police officers will be allocated to do spot checks at the Auckland border over summer, and how many spot checks will they be expected to complete on a daily basis?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Any deployments of that nature are operational and a matter for the Commissioner of Police.

💬 Simeon Brown: Has she seen reports that “Maintaining regular policing standards is not possible with so many staff on COVID-19 duties and the extra strain will not be sustainable for much longer.”; if so, how will police manage the increase in demand for services, which is common over the summer period?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: There’s no doubt that COVID-19 has had a huge impact on police services not only around the country but specifically in Auckland, and there has been significant demand. But that’s why I’m grateful that this Government has invested $450 million in our police and, as a result of this investment, we’ve increased our total police workforce. It now surpasses 14,000, with 1,200 additional constabulary and authorised officers on the streets.

💬 Hon Chris Hipkins: Has she seen reports that moves to ensure police can access additional support from the military and from community patrols and from Māori wardens and the like to support the COVID-19 response have been vocally opposed?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Yes, I have, and notably from that side of the House.

💬 Simeon Brown: Can the Minister guarantee that all checkpoints run by iwi this summer will have at least one police officer present?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Iwi bring valuable expertise and experience which has supported police in the past, and they play a key role in resolving and diffusing matters where people have wanted to travel between regions, especially during high stress times, and this has been evident throughout the lockdown. Only police or authorised enforcement officers acting under supervision, such as the New Zealand Defence Force or Māori wardens of police, will have enforcement powers.

💬 Simeon Brown: Point of order. The question was quite clear in that I was asking about these checkpoints run by iwi—will there also be at least one police officer present? I don’t think she answered that part of the question.

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Yes.

💬 Simeon Brown: How many of the 700 police officers promised to tackle organised crime, which the Minister mentioned in the answer to the primary question, have so far been delivered?

💬 Hon POTO WILLIAMS: My recollection is somewhere in the region of 350, perhaps 400.

That concludes—[Banter across the Chamber] Order! That concludes oral questions. I call on Government—[Members’ banter continues]. Order! Turituri! I call on Government order of the day, No. 1.