Oral Questions

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

The export sector continues to support New Zealand’s recovery. Today, Statistics New Zealand reported the exports of goods in October rose $552 million, or 12 percent, to $5.3 billion compared with the same period a year ago. The main contribution here came from dairy products, which rose 18 percent—

💬 Barbara Kuriger: Of course.

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: —to $1.5 billion in the month—that’s right, Mrs Kuriger—led by higher prices for milk powder. The meat sector also contributed strongly, with sales rising 25 percent in October, while fruit exports increased by 35 percent. On an annual basis, exports were up 3.3 percent from the previous year to $62 billion. Our exporters are contributing strongly to the economy, for which all of us, I’m sure, thank them.

💬 Anna Lorck: What else did the report show on trade and its impact on confidence in the economy?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well, the overseas merchandise trade figures for October show that firms appear increasingly confident in investing more in the economy and the recovery. Imports of machinery and plant rose 43 percent to $927 million in October compared with the same month a year earlier. For the October quarter, imports of machinery and plant rose 33 percent to $2.8 million, and for the year, the same imports rose 12 percent to $9.4 billion. The economy remains resilient, despite the impact of the current Delta outbreak and uncertainty around the pandemic. We can expect volatility in domestic and international data for some time, but New Zealand is well positioned to manage that.

💬 Anna Lorck: What other reports has he seen on the economy?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Xero’s Small Business Index has seen a rebound in sales, which rose 6.4 percent in October on a year ago, after two months of decline. Jobs continued to rise, up 4.4 percent, increasing by 3.6 percent in September. There was also an improvement in small businesses being paid on time in the quarter. The survey showed a strong bounce back in sales led by the construction, manufacturing, and retail trade sectors, while hospitality and tourism declined in light of the current restrictions. Xero said that the recovery appeared to reflect the easing of prior alert levels and the ability of small businesses to adapt during uncertain times. It said the survey suggested the economy will rebound when Auckland fully reopens, but, of course, it will still be challenging for some businesses.

💬 SPEAKER: I just want to indicate to members that while we are likely, under the new framework, to allow members to be sort of closer together next time we sit, I do want members to maintain their separations during this period.

Question No. 2—Health

2. to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by all of his statements and actions in relation to health?

on behalf of the Minister of Health: Yes.

💬 Dr SHANE RETI: Can he confirm that the 27,433 people waiting more than four months for a first specialist assessment that he reported yesterday is the largest number of people on this waiting list ever?

On behalf of the Minister, I can’t confirm that number. However, I am confident that, as we look towards continuing to support our COVID-19 response, as well as business as usual, as we best we can, given we are in a global pandemic, we have a system that will be able to cater for that, and we’ll continue to monitor that as we move forward.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: How many, then, if any, of the 284 ICU beds he has stated are fully resourced do not currently have a dedicated ventilator?

On behalf of the Minister, I don’t have that detail to hand right now. However, as we have done a survey across our DHBs, and looking towards our capacity to continue to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, I am confident that the health sector and our health infrastructure will stand up, but it will only be able to stand up if we continue to support, as well, our social response to this, which is why the announcement today by the Hon Andrew Little was a very good one.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: Can he confirm that Whanganui District Health Board has four resourced ICU beds, but only three ventilators?

On behalf of the Minister, I can’t confirm that as I don’t have that detail, but in my recent visit to Whanganui, I am encouraged by the work that they are doing to turn around their vaccine rates, which continue to rise.

💬 SPEAKER: I’m just going to ask the Minister to be clear, when he’s talking about his recent visit, whether he’s talking about his recent visit or the Minister’s recent visit.

My recent visit.

💬 SPEAKER: Right, well, it’s an important differentiation to make.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: What rate of hospitalisations is considered manageable under the new traffic light system, and do the three Auckland DHBs currently meet that definition?

On behalf of the Minister, yes, I’ve got full confidence in the Auckland DHBs to continue to respond using the capacity that they have. We know in particular that the Auckland health system has been under stress, but has responded quite well. We’re confident that, as we look towards ICU capability, as well as our ongoing health capability in Tāmaki-makau-rau, we’ll continue to be able to respond and respond well.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: How many DHB proposals for funding to build additional ICU capacity have been rejected over the last 12 months, if any?

On behalf of the Minister, I don’t have that detail to hand, but if the member would like to put it in writing, I’m sure he’ll get a detailed answer.

💬 Dr Shane Reti: How many hospitals, if any, are still building negative pressure rooms in preparation for coronavirus, and when will all building be completed?

On behalf of the Minister, once again I don’t have that level detail across the hospital network in Aotearoa, but if the member wants to put it in writing, I’m sure he’ll get a detailed answer.

I didn’t interrupt the member as he was asking his questions, but I will draw his attention to Speakers’ ruling 183/3. The questions—if the member wanted to persist with the questions, I decided that was his call, but they could have been ruled out, and certainly there is not a requirement to answer them.

Question No. 3—Housing

3. to the Minister of Housing: What progress has the Government made on rebuilding public housing in Auckland?

The Government is working hard to rebuild public housing across New Zealand, including in Auckland. When we came into Government in 2017, there were 1,500 fewer public houses across New Zealand than there were a decade before. Since then, I’m pleased to report that we’re starting to rectify this situation by rebuilding our public housing stock. Since coming to Government in 2017, we now have more than 8,000 additional warm, dry public housing places to call home. Over 6,500 of these are brand new builds and we’re continuing to deliver more. In Auckland, I’m pleased to report we’ve exceeded our target, delivering 4,805 new public houses against the target set in the Public Housing Plan for 2018-2022 of 3,550 and there’s still nearly a year to go.

💬 Shanan Halbert: What action has the Government taken to build more public houses in Northcote?

💬 Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: In Northcote, more than 280 new houses have been delivered to date. Further infrastructure investment has enabled an additional 1,000 homes, with 575 of these currently under construction. More than $130 million has been invested to develop the land at Northcote with an additional $13 million in shovel-ready investment for stormwater work. Once completed, the Northcote large-scale project will deliver 1,600 new homes, with 480 new public homes. All homes in the Northcote development—public, KiwiBuild, and open market—are built to a six Homestar standard, which exceeds New Zealand’s building code requirements.

💬 Shanan Halbert: What action has the Government taken to build more public houses in Mount Roskill?

💬 Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: In Mount Roskill, we have completed 188 homes, 169 of these are public houses which have been delivered to date, with around 671 further homes under construction. Furthermore, through a mix of Kāinga Ora’s direct investment and additional Crown capital investments through shovel-ready funding and the Housing Acceleration Fund, we’ve invested more than $180 million on infrastructure and earthworks. So far, we’ve completed earthworks to enable another 771 homes, with more than 11,000 high-quality healthy homes to be built across 162 hectares over the next 15 to 20 years. This will include approximately 4,400 State houses, 3,300 affordable homes, and 3,300 homes for the open market.

Question No. 4—Tourism

4. to the Minister of Tourism: Does he agree with the comment made by Eve Lawrence from Haka Tourism New Zealand that “Off-shore travel partners just simply will not sell New Zealand and we’ll be taken off the network”; if not, what advice, if any, has he received that suggests that Eve Lawrence is wrong?

To the first part of that question, no. To the second part of the question, I have received the following advice, and I quote: “Oh my goodness—I’m so happy I could sing. We finally have a plan. This gives suffering tourism, hospitality, and travel businesses the ability to plan and notify clients that they can travel again in 2002. I’m elated that we now have a plan. We can set our businesses up for operational activities for the 2022-23 season.” That is from Eve Lawrence of Haka Tourism New Zealand.

💬 SPEAKER: Order! I think the member might have got a year wrong in the middle of that and he might want to say 2022 rather than 2002. Thank you.

💬 Chris Baillie: Does the Minister have a better understanding of the realities facing the tourism industry than industry leaders such as Eve Lawrence, who said to the Government that New Zealand will be taken off the network and the industry will be decimated if tourists are still not able to enter New Zealand freely?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: Well, Eve Lawrence also wrote that she was very happy that there’s a plan and now they can start planning for operational activities for the 2022 and 2023 season.

💬 Chris Baillie: What would he say to the comments made by the owner of a large tourism provider that “The rest of the world is opening up and they are ready to travel. We need to announce to the rest of the world that we will be open for fully vaccinated people by the end of the year, otherwise we will get left behind.”?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: Well, I think Minister Hipkins actually made an announcement around when we’d be open just this week. The other thing I would say is I don’t want to diminish in any way, shape, or form the fact that the tourism industry, and certainly those that are reliant on international visitors in a pre-COVID environment, have done it really tough. But, again, as the Prime Minister and every Minister has reiterated, we are taking very much a health-based approach to COVID. Our number one priority is the health and wellbeing of Kiwis.

💬 Chris Baillie: What would he say to the thousands of operators in the tourism and hospitality industry who, over the last two years, have been forced to use up all of their savings, have endured countless sleepless nights worried about the future for themselves, their families, and their staff, and believe that this Government has failed them?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: I disagree with the statement this Government has failed them. What I would say is the Government has spent nearly $500 million in this sector, the most of any sector of the economy, and that is outside of the wage subsidy and the COVID resurgence payment scheme. We have invested heavily in the sector. But I would not diminish the fact that for many in this sector, the global pandemic that we find ourselves in has been incredibly tough.

Sorry, before I call the next question—I have been under quite a lot of pressure, especially from the major parties, to allow more people into the Chamber. Part of the basis of doing that is that people wear their masks, and that includes wearing their masks—no, I’m not talking about the member, because he’s got the next question; that’s fine—over their nose. Thank you, Mr Smith and Dr Woods.

Question No. 5—Finance

5. to the Minister of Finance: What are the criteria for the new COVID-19 support payments, and how many businesses has he been advised are expected to receive it?

As I’ve answered throughout this week, I outlined the broad criteria for consideration of any future support on 22 October. If the member is referring to the passage of the Taxation (COVID-19 Support Payments and Working for Families Tax Credits) Bill last night, the changes outlined there are designed to allow for certainty and flexibility under our future framework. In answer to the second part of the question, that will depend on the nature of any future financial support.

💬 Andrew Bayly: Will a business operating in the orange level be eligible for any form of support payment after 3 December?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As announced on 22 October, it is not our expectation that there will be broad-based economic supports under the orange level because businesses operating with vaccine certificates will be able to operate largely as normal. As I have also said, and said on 22 October, we will continue to look at sector-specific support throughout this period.

💬 Andrew Bayly: On what day will businesses be informed if they are operating at orange or red level next weekend?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The Prime Minister has already signalled this week that the announcements will be made on Monday next week—not the weekend.

💬 Andrew Bayly: On what day will business sectors know whether they will qualify for targeted support under the traffic light system?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The question of targeted support will be an ongoing one, because, obviously, the framework is not yet in place, so we’re unable to assess the exact impact on specific sectors. As the Minister of Tourism said during an answer just a few moments ago, we’ve had close to $500 million of targeted support towards that sector, and we continue to work with that sector and others that are affected on what their needs are.

💬 Andrew Bayly: Will a business that loses 30 percent of its revenue due to being in the red level be eligible for the new COVID-19 support payments?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As I said in the answer to my primary question, there is no COVID-19 support payment. The change made in the legislation was to enable flexibility should there be any future payments.

💬 Andrew Bayly: Will the COVID-19 support payments—and I use the term generically, as per the primary—be at least the same monetary value per business as the combined resurgence payment and the wage subsidy?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well, the Government has not made decisions about that. We will look at the impact of the red level on businesses, in particular on different sectors.

Question No. 6—Prime Minister

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

On behalf of the Prime Minister, yes.

💬 Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: How will her Government ensure that rural Māori communities with low vaccination rates are protected over the summer break when she’s intending to allow widespread interregional travel from as early as next month?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Prime Minister, as the Prime Minister has said repeatedly, we will be working with those in communities where there are low vaccination rates; in particular, the Prime Minister has mentioned the north and far north of New Zealand where we intend to work with iwi around how we will manage that. Alongside that, there will be the ongoing vaccination programme and the fact that we do have the protection framework, which has different levels which enable greater levels of restriction and therefore protection.

💬 Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Will her Government live up to its duty as Te Tiriti partner and work with rural Māori communities and iwi, as you said, with low vaccination rates, including through the resourcing of police, and/or iwi, hapū checkpoints; if not, why not?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: In answer to the first part of the question, yes.

💬 Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: What specific actions has her Government taken, if any, alongside Māori health leaders and experts to develop a Māori home isolation strategy?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Prime Minister, that has been an ongoing piece of work. It’s involved consultation with a number of Māori Ministers working with the iwi leaders group, among others, but then also at a local level as well. The $120 million that the Government committed was half towards the vaccination programme and half towards supporting a Māori community response to COVID-19.

💬 Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Will she direct officials to invest funding and resource into hapū, iwi, and Māori organisations for standing up saliva testing operations in the regions, given that early detection and early treatment is the best way of keeping people safe from COVID-19?

💬 Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Prime Minister, we remain committed to working with Māori health organisations and, indeed, all Māori and iwi organisations, to support and protect their people. Testing is indeed an important part of making sure that happens.

Question No. 7—Social Development and Employment

7. to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she stand by all of her statements and actions in relation to social development and employment?

on behalf of the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Yes.

💬 Hon Louise Upston: Is the Minister comfortable that one in nine working-age adults in New Zealand are on a main benefit, and, if not, what targets will the Government set to reduce benefit dependency?

I don’t have that information in front of me, and if the member wanted to be more specific, then she should have put that into the primary question. But what I can say is that we as a Government are proud that in the last three quarters, we have seen record numbers of people move off benefit and into work.

💬 Hon Louise Upston: Is the Minister concerned that 79,200 people have spent more than two consecutive years on the job seeker benefit, and, if so, which initiatives have been the most successful to help people who have been on benefit long term into work?

What this Government has done that the previous Government failed to do is that we have put more front-line staff to help people when they come to the Ministry of Social Development, who give them that support and help in that early intervention, which is very important. We don’t believe in a sanctions-based process, which the previous Government did.

💬 Hon Louise Upston: Does she acknowledge that a disproportionate number of Māori moved on to benefit over the past two years, and, if so, why has it taken more than four years to deliver the Māori employment action plan?

As I said in my primary answer, the member should have put those questions into the primary question, because that information I don’t have. But what I will say is that this Government has done a lot of work to move Māori into full-time employment, including through programmes such as Mana in Mahi and He Poutama Rangatahi, which are fabulous programmes and very strong in getting Māori into employment.

💬 Hon Louise Upston: Is the Government’s flexi-wage extension on track to support 40,000 people into jobs over two years, and, if not, why not?

I do not have that information in front of me, and if the member would like to have that answer, then if she would put that in writing, the Minister will be happy to put in a full answer.

💬 Hon Louise Upston: What advice has she received about the impact on child poverty of having more children grow up in benefit-dependent homes?

Once again, the member could put that question in writing. But what I could say is some of the actions that we have taken to get people back into work is 263 new front-line staff in Budget 2019, to help people into work; invested $150 million in Budget 2020 to help more people into work; and invested a further $99 million in work-focused case management and services, in Budget 2021.

💬 SPEAKER: I will just remind people of the Speaker’s ruling that I quoted before. I will not insist on Ministers answering questions when there is not a specific link between the primary question and the supplementary.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: Point of order, Mr Speaker.

💬 SPEAKER: I hope the member’s not just getting up to argue with the ruling that I’ve just given.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: I wouldn’t dare, Mr Speaker. What I would point out, though, is that the Speaker’s ruling you referenced doesn’t specifically rule out the questions; it just says that the questioner can’t expect a specific answer. The second thing I would say is that it does make it rather difficult when we prepare on the basis that the Minister is there to answer questions, and an Associate or other Minister is answering on their behalf.

💬 SPEAKER: I think, probably, the member should look at the set of Speakers’ rulings in that area. I quoted 183/3. Maybe 183/1 would be a good one for him to look at, which says that a supplementary question must arise from the primary. Clearly, if there is not a specific link, the member can’t expect an answer and should not whinge through the answer being given if it’s not specific.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: But it doesn’t rule it out.

💬 SPEAKER: Sorry, is the member suggesting that I should rule out the supplementary questions from his team if they don’t flow properly?

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: No, Mr Speaker; I’m suggesting that the question is not out of order, according to the Standing Orders. We accept that we can’t expect a specific reply, and that’s the ruling you’ve made. I’m just pointing out that it is difficult when there’s an Associate answering on behalf of, because we prepare on the basis that the Minister is able to answer the question, and you did quote 183/3.

💬 Hon Chris Hipkins: Speaking to the point of order, Mr Speaker. There are regularly occasions when Ministers are unable to be in the debating chamber at any given time, and the solution to that, if members who are asking questions wish to ensure that the Minister who is answering, regardless of whether it’s the usual Minister or someone standing in their place, is that if they ask more specific questions, then they can expect Ministers to be prepared in detail to provide detailed answers.

💬 SPEAKER: I think the Leader of the House has got it pretty well. As people are aware, I’m a former Minister of Education. We had over 10,000 ministerials a year—10,000 separate things that we dealt with individually in a year, and what that meant was, when there was questioning about things, frankly, there was a big proportion of those that were not front of mind and, therefore, an indication of the specific area of questions meant that the Minister could come prepared. Both members have drawn distinctions where there was a member answering on behalf, but, frankly, even as the primary Minister answering questions as detailed as the two we’ve had from here now, it is, I think, unreasonable without proper notice to expect Ministers to answer those questions in detail. They’re very specific. They’re important questions, and if members actually want answers to them, then an indication of the direction of travel would certainly assist them in getting the answers. If people don’t want real answers, then we’ll have what’s happened here today.

Question No. 8—Economic and Regional Development

8. to the Minister for Economic and Regional Development: Why did the Government invest in the Ōpuke tourism complex in Methven?

The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) extended a $7.5 million loan that was structured for the unique nature of this development, which I officially opened yesterday with the member for Rangitata, Jo Luxton. Ōpuke is a project of regional economic significance in the Canterbury High Country. It is a zero emissions operation that uses solar power from a farm of solar panels to heat water straight from the mountains. It will allow Methven to become a year-round destination, building on its existing reputation for skiing and other adventure tourism during the winter months. It will help transform the regional economy away from seasonal peaks and troughs and help transition from short-term jobs to an all-year-round town with more visitors and permanent jobs. While I try to avoid getting into hot water, the Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa complex is a compelling case for investment.

💬 Jo Luxton: How did the partnership work between Government, regional businesses, and Canterbury local government to bring this project to fruition?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: Work on this project first began in 2009, when local business Methven Adventures Ltd and its predecessors started the design, feasibility, and resource consent work. They enlisted backing from local government in the Canterbury Mayoral Forum, and took a strategic approach to focus on a wider seasonal spread of visitors across the region and the South Island. These are precisely the sorts of projects that align with the objectives of the Provincial Growth Fund and the Government’s regional economic development strategy, so financing backing from the Government made perfect sense. As Methven tourism and business leader Dave Dynes said yesterday, and I quote, “The Government’s belief in what we were doing, the Government’s reasons for putting their money behind it, was really good, and if we hadn’t got that, the project would have been dead in the water.”

💬 Jo Luxton: How does the investment at Methven align with other regional economic development projects and strategies in Canterbury?

💬 Hon STUART NASH: It is the third-largest PGF project in the Canterbury region, after a $10.5 million racetrack at Riccarton and the $10.8 million Wakatu Quay development in Kaikōura. This sort of investment is transformational and part of a wider Government strategy to strengthen our regional economies, businesses, and jobs. These projects are examples of innovative thinking and partnerships. They offer new economic solutions to challenges facing provincial towns, businesses, and jobs, as well. Last month, we passed an important $2 billion milestone in payments to regional economic development projects. The momentum of regional economic development is now picking up pace. We reached the $2 billion milestone just 10 months after the $1 billion milestone in February this year, which itself took three years to achieve.

Question No. 9—Public Service

9. to the Minister for the Public Service: Have any pay equity settlements been reached since the new pay equity process came into force over a year ago; if not, why not?

There are currently 23 claims in train; 13 of which have been raised since the Act came into force last year, and none have yet been settled. Those claims cover 170,000 employees. Five of the claims are in the final phase of bargaining for settlement, having completed the comprehensive assessment and analysis work this year. We hope to see those settled within the next six months, and they’ll reach over 66,000 employees.

💬 Jan Logie: Is he confident the framework for governance and oversight of State sector pay equity claims is working, and, if so, why are the DHB admin workers still waiting for settlement when agreement around undervaluation was reached well over a year ago?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I am, overall, satisfied with the way pay equity claims are being governed. I do acknowledge that the DHB claim that the member refers to is probably one of the most complex of all of the pay equity claims that we have seen being lodged. I think I’m not supposed to say it’s in the final stages, but it is getting pretty close, and I’m optimistic.

💬 Jan Logie: Why, after a three-year process, have 10,000 school administrators been told they can’t enter final negotiations before Christmas, because the Government hasn’t given sign-off?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I am, again, optimistic around the school administration claim that the member refers to. There is a fairly comprehensive process that we need to go through. It includes making sure that all of the relevant steps have been followed to ensure that the claim has been made out, that we’re ready for bargaining, that the parameters of the bargaining are clear, and so on. The Government is working its way through that. As I’ve indicated, there are a number of claims. There are some overlapping interests between claims that we’re working our way through, ensuring that we’re getting alignment, so that we get consistent outcomes for the claimants. Then, of course, there’s issues around the current bargaining, which some of those who are involved in claims are also involved in at the moment. So it’s not a complete black and white, straightforward set of issues.

💬 Jan Logie: Considering a lack of information about pay rates slows down the claim assessment process, will he advocate for pay transparency legislation this term?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Thank you. I’m not responsible for pay transparency legislation, but I certainly do think that there is merit in the wider issues around pay transparency. Whether legislation is the best way of achieving that is not something that I have ministerial responsibility for.

💬 SPEAKER: Question No. 10. Jamie Strange—oh, sorry.

💬 Jan Logie: Oh, sorry, Mr Speaker.

💬 SPEAKER: I thought I got the nod the member was finished.

💬 Jan Logie: I was just too quiet, unusually. Does the Minister acknowledge that justice delayed is justice denied, and despite it being almost 50 years now since the Equal Pay Act passed, women, particularly in essential services, are still waiting for a fair deal?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In answer to the first part of the member’s question, absolutely, yes. In answer to the second part of the question, do I think that the elapsed time to achieve genuine pay equity is an acceptable one? No, I don’t, at all. One of the things that I have been pushing as Minister for the Public Service is making sure that we are prioritising and properly resourcing pay equity claims so that we can actually get those settled. There is a significant financial cost involved in those, and over the next 18 months or so, I think members will see just the scale of the cost that’s involved in settling those pay equity claims. But we need to think about that not just in terms of the cost but in terms of who is bearing the cost of that at the moment, which is that yes, that will be an increased cost to the taxpayer, but what that actually means is that the women of New Zealand are currently subsidising the operation of Government and public services by not being paid what they should be.

Question No. 10—Commerce and Consumer Affairs

10. to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What announcements has he made about addressing competition concerns in the building supplies sector?

This Government is laying the foundations for a more competitive building sector. We’re following through on our promise to have the Commerce Commission complete a market study into residential building supplies, and that includes the foundations, the flooring, the walls, the roof, the insulation—

💬 SPEAKER: OK. We’re not going to have building tutorial.

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: It’s very clearly specified in the terms of reference, Mr Speaker, so that we know what’s out and what’s in in the study. We know there have been longstanding concerns about the highly concentrated nature of the building supplies sector, and we want to have a study that will determine what change might be needed.

💬 Jamie Strange: What are some of the concerns he’s heard about competition in the sector?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Market concentration has, indeed, been raised as a concern. We know there are two concrete firms that supply about 85 percent of the sector. We know that there are three glass wall insulation firms that control about 85 percent of the sector—one plasterboard manufacturing firm that controls about 94 percent of the market. There are rebates and loyalty schemes operated by some firms, and I believe it’s in the public interest to have a look into these matters.

💬 Jamie Strange: What reaction has he seen to the announcement?

💬 Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Monopoly Watch NZ welcomed the announcement, saying the study is a chance for a long overdue industry reform, with the possible long-term result of lower housing costs for consumers. John Gray, the president of the Home Owners and Buyers Association, says building materials in Australia can be half the price of what they are here. He’s hopeful the investigation will find solutions. And Property NZ has offered to help with the study in any way it can. I’m proud to be part of a Government that remains firmly focused on the interests of New Zealanders.

Question No. 11—COVID-19 Response

11. to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: Does he stand by all of his statements and actions in relation to the COVID-19 response?

Yes. In particular, I stand by the Government’s overall response to COVID-19, which has put the safety and interests of all New Zealanders squarely at its centre. Over the course of the week, we’ve outlined the next phase of our response, which includes the road map for operating under the new COVID-19 Protection Framework and the pathway for reconnecting New Zealand with the world. Earlier today, Ministers Sepuloni, Little, and Verrall outlined the Government’s plans for supporting New Zealanders to recover from COVID-19 in the community. I would note that in addition to becoming one of the most vaccinated countries in the world, New Zealand has the lowest rate of cases and deaths in the OECD.

💬 Chris Bishop: When is the earliest foreign travellers and tourists will be allowed to enter New Zealand under the reconnecting New Zealand to the world policy he’s just referenced?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: It depends whether they would qualify under either of the January or February groups that are being allowed in. In terms of the general admission of foreign nationals, we’ve set an April date around that and we’ll continue to work towards that. People wanted a date, so we have given them a date. There is still some uncertainty about that and I acknowledge that, but we’ll continue to work through that.

💬 Chris Bishop: Why can a vaccinated and negative tested Aucklander travel around New Zealand before Christmas but a New Zealander in Queensland with no COVID cannot travel to Auckland?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: As I’ve been through many times already in this House, the Government acknowledges that coming across the border does pose a risk and that the number of people coming across the border will increase exponentially when we allow a greater number of people to travel back into the country. The Australians are making decisions around removing their internal borders and that has had a bearing on our thinking in that particular area.

💬 Chris Bishop: Has New Zealand placed a purchase order for Pfizer vaccines for five- to 11-year-olds, and, if so, when did New Zealand do so?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The advanced purchase agreement that we announced for additional doses includes—it’s already been announced and it’s already been signed—access to paediatric doses.

💬 Chris Bishop: Point of order, Mr Speaker. The question was whether or not New Zealand has raised a purchase order for those vaccine doses, not whether or not the advanced purchase agreement allows for that to happen.

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Mr Speaker, I’m happy to further elaborate. In terms of when purchase orders are raised, that’s part of an ongoing negotiation around delivery schedules. Purchase orders typically get raised once a delivery schedule has been confirmed with Pfizer. A delivery schedule for paediatric doses has not yet been confirmed.

💬 Chris Bishop: Why has the Government not yet agreed a delivery schedule with Pfizer for five- to 11-year-old vaccines given other countries have been able to do so and, in fact, are rolling them out right now?

💬 Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In fact, very few countries have.

💬 Chris Bishop: Does he believe New Zealanders had adequate opportunity to participate in the legislating of the COVID-19 Response (Vaccinations) Legislation Bill, and, if so, how?

💬 Hon Chris Hipkins: No. One of the realities in dealing with a global pandemic is sometimes the usual processes that are the most optimal and the most desirable aren’t as possible as they normally would be.

Question No. 12—Customs

12. to the Minister of Customs: Is Customs prepared for the arrival of small craft into New Zealand this summer?

The small craft season has commenced, and Customs is well prepared to manage the expected number of arrivals. Customs continues its role monitoring compliance with the maritime border order, ensuring that breaches are reported and, where necessary, working with health and border partners, police, and port authorities to undertake enforcement action. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, comprehensive processes were put in place to update the arrivals process for travellers arriving by small craft. This entails health checks, isolation of vessels or in managed isolation facilities, COVID-19 testing, and strict movement controls for vessels and crew. These measures successfully prevented COVID19 from entering Aotearoa through our maritime border.

💬 Greg O’Connor: What is the arrivals process for travellers arriving in Ōpua?

💬 Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: Small craft arriving into New Zealand need to comply with standard border entry and quarantine requirements, along with the public health requirements. This includes advanced arrival information and approval processes, and monitoring by Customs and partner agencies. The port of Ōpua is the only designated port of arrival for all small craft into New Zealand. It provides the most direct place of entry for arriving small craft and has highly suitable facilities to support the control of the vessels and crew. The border at Ōpua is safely and effectively managed to prevent COVID-19 from entering New Zealand. On arrival into Ōpua, travellers must meet the 10-day isolation period and are tested and assessed before being cleared by border and health agencies. These staff operate with the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and health protection measures in place. Customs also provide travellers with PPE. Once travellers have met all health and isolations, they can get off their boat or leave managed isolation and quarantine.

💬 Greg O’Connor: How has Customs engaged with the yachting community?

💬 Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: Customs estimate that between 80 to 90 small craft will arrive this yachting season. As of 20 November 2021, 55 of these small craft have already arrived. To safely and effectively manage Ōpua operations, Customs has been proactive in communicating across various channels to inform the yachting community. The purpose is not only to inform them of the entry requirements but also about the health protections in place at the maritime border to protect Aotearoa against COVID-19. This information includes isolation and quarantine requirements for those who are returning home to New Zealand from the Pacific. Customs has updated its website pages on the maritime border order and private craft, and included a new frequently asked questions section. Customs also launched a Facebook advertising campaign aimed at people with yachting interests across the Pacific.

That concludes oral questions.