Estimates Debate — In Committee

Members, the House is in committee for further consideration of the Appropriation (2025/26 Estimates) Bill. The Business Committee has determined to organise the debate by portfolio, so there will be no sector-specific debates. All Votes are available for debate, but only specific Ministers will be available each day to speak to the indicated portfolio. The Government has indicated that the Minister for Social Development and Employment, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Justice, and the Minister for Māori Development will be available today. Each debate will be led by a call from the chairperson or member of the committee that considered the Estimates most closely related to the Ministers’ portfolios. In leading off the debate, the chairperson should take care not to be overly political and should ensure their call gives a fair reflection of the committee’s report on the Votes relevant to the portfolio. The debate expires after 11 hours, at which point questions will be put that the Votes stand part of the Schedules and on the provisions of the Appropriation (2025/26 Estimates) Bill.

There are now five hours and 51 minutes remaining in this debate. New Zealand National has one hour and 48 minutes remaining. New Zealand Labour has one hour and 45 minutes remaining. The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand has 44 minutes remaining. ACT New Zealand has 54 minutes remaining. New Zealand First has 38 minutes remaining. Te Pāti Māori has 23 minutes remaining.

The Estimates debate should be relevant to the Government’s current spending plans contained in the Estimates of Appropriations. A compendium of the reports of select committees on the Votes is available on the Table. The question is that the Votes contained in the Estimates of Appropriations for 2025-26 stand part.

Members, we start with the Minister for Social Development and Employment. The Minister is available to speak to that portfolio from 4.16 to 5.16.

Social Development and Employment