Tuesday, 9 May 2023 [Volume 767] The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m. KARAKIA/PRAYERS SPEAKER: Members, in recognition of Rotuman Language Week, I've asked Ingrid Leary to say the prayer today in Rotuman. INGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri): Gagaj 'Ḁitu, 'ḁmis 'uḁ'uḁ'ḁkia 'äe 'e reko ḁlalum 'atakoa ne 'ḁmis pō 'e 'otomis mḁuri. 'Ḁmis 'uḁ'uḁ'ḁkia 'äe 'e reko måür 'on Sḁu Fā ta Jiare ma far la 'äe la muḁ'ḁkia 'otomis hḁifäegaga 'e terḁni te 'i. La pō la 'ḁmis la a'sokoa 'amnåk tūtū ne Rī Tḁunå' te'is 'e 'ou poto ma 'inea, 'e hḁiäf'ḁkiga, hḁihanisiga ma huḁg vḁivḁi se 'on lelei ne hanue te'is Niu Sirḁgi. 'Emen. [Lord God, we thank you because of all the blessings that we receive in our lives. We thank you for the life of King Charles and ask that you guide our discussions today. So that we may carry out the purposes of this House of meeting through your wisdom and knowledge, in mutual respect, mutual care and humility for the betterment of this nation New Zealand. Amen.] SPEAKER'S STATEMENTS Dr Elizabeth Kerekere SPEAKER: Members— Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Point of order. SPEAKER: —under Standing Order 36(1)(c)— Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Point of order, Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: I'm on my feet. Members, under Standing Order 36(1)(c), I have been advised by the Green Party that their parliamentary membership has changed and that Dr Elizabeth Kerekere is no longer a member of the Green Party for parliamentary purposes. Accordingly, under Standing Order 35(5), Dr Kerekere is, from 8 May 2023, regarded as an independent member for Parliamentary purposes. AMENDED ANSWERS TO ORAL QUESTIONS Question No. 2 to the Prime Minister, 8 March Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Prime Minister): I seek leave to correct an answer to a supplementary question that I gave on Wednesday, 8 March in answer to question No. 2. SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none. Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In one of my answers to a supplementary question, I said that the number of ram raids had fallen by three-quarters, or 75 percent. Data to the end of 2023 showed that the number of ram raids had fallen from their peak in August 2022 by two-thirds, or 66 percent. During that same period, the number of individuals committing ram raids fell by 83 percent. MOTIONS His Majesty King Charles III—Coronation Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Prime Minister): A further point of order, Mr Speaker. Following a Business Committee discussion, I seek leave to move a motion without notice congratulating His Majesty, following his recent coronation. SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is none. Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I move, That this House congratulate His Majesty the King on the occasion of his coronation. On 6 May, I was privileged to attend the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey. It was a rare and special event. The previous coronation, of Queen Elizabeth II, took place 70 years ago, in 1953. The world is a very different place now to what it was in 1953, and the coronation provided an opportunity to reflect on history as well as to look ahead to the future. King Charles automatically became the King of New Zealand on 8 September last year, following the death of the late Queen. The coronation was a celebration of his accession to the throne not just of the United Kingdom but as head of State of 15 nations around the world, including our own. Those nations span across three different continents. It was a great source of pride to see New Zealand's Defence Force personnel marching in the procession and to have New Zealand represented among the guests. Attending in London and being able to meet personally with the King reinforced to me his genuine interest in our people and his awareness of our place in the world. The King and other members of the royal family have been closely following our recovery from the recent Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, and King Charles' passion around environmental issues, including climate change, was clearly very evident in our discussions. King Charles has visited New Zealand 10 times, and he has a strong personal commitment to Aotearoa. The themes he selected for his coronation were youth, diversity, and sustainability—themes which also resonate strongly with New Zealanders. While not everyone in our nation, or even in this House, shares similar views on the role of the monarchy in a modern society—and public debate will, undoubtedly, continue on that topic—I'm sure that everyone will join with me in congratulating His Majesty on this significant milestone. The coronation was a moment where the King publicly took oaths of service and duty. I know that he takes those oaths seriously and deeply personally. I wish King Charles well in his role, and I send the warmest wishes and congratulations to His Majesty and to the Queen for the lives of service that they have committed to, on behalf of all New Zealanders. SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to. DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori): Point of order. Kia ora—[Interruption] SPEAKER: Members, I was informed this morning that all parties had agreed to that by Te Paati Māori. I was subsequently informed by a number of parties that that was not the case. Given that it happened anyway, I have limited ability to address it except Rawiri Waititi will leave the Chamber. Rawiri Waititi withdrew from the Chamber. SPEAKER: And Debbie Ngarewa-Packer will leave the Chamber as well. Debbie Ngarewa-Packer withdrew from the Chamber. PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS Leave Not Put Hon MEKA WHAITIRI (Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): Point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek leave to make a personal explanation. SPEAKER: We're in the middle of a debate. The best time to do that is at the end of the debate. CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Leader of the Opposition): It is a pleasure, on behalf of the National Party, to support this motion congratulating New Zealand's head of State, His Majesty King Charles III, on his coronation. Like the Prime Minister, last Saturday I had the privilege and honour of attending the King's coronation in Westminster Abbey, and it was a historic occasion in a very beautiful and ancient building. The coronation reminded me once again of that acknowledgment that New Zealanders so often make after watching a royal event, and that is that no one can do it quite like the British. All of it was spectacular, from the carriages and parades outside the abbey to the magnificent choristers and flowers inside, and both inside and outside there was a real sense of joy and celebration. But I also agree with the sentiments of the Prince of Wales. Prince William said, "For all that celebrations are magnificent, at the heart of the pageantry is a simple message: service." Almost all King Charles' life has been about service. First, as Britain's longest-serving Prince of Wales, giving support and strength to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, but he has been serving Britain and the Commonwealth for a long time. In 1952, at the age of three, he became heir apparent, the next in line to the throne. At 16, he undertook his first official royal duty and he has not stopped serving since. He has been patron or president of more than 800 causes that matter to him, and the coronation also symbolised King Charles' role as head of the Church of England. His Christian faith is important to him, but the coronation included roles for all major faiths, and that message of religious acceptance and inclusion is so important. King Charles is also a conservationist, an accomplished artist, a musician, and an equestrian, and I'm sure all these interests will shape his regency. He is a husband, a father, and a grandfather, and he has stepchildren and step-grandchildren. Like with every family everywhere, things don't always run smoothly, and his family has the added burden of being unrelentingly in the public eye. But throughout it all, his service to his late mother the Queen, and to Britain and to the Commonwealth, which he now heads, has been unwavering. He has made many visits to New Zealand, and the royal family closely follow events here. I am sure the King understands the significance of the Crown's relationship with Māori as signatories to the Treaty of Waitangi. I have said publicly that I believe that at some point New Zealand will become a republic, and should we step away from the monarchy, it will not be a negative reflection of whoever is on the throne at that time; in fact, it will be a sign of the monarchy's success in having helped shape the successful, tolerant, open, and independent country that New Zealand is today. But that is not a here and now discussion. Here and now is the celebration of our new King. He is and will continue to be an important presence in all of our lives and I feel sure he will serve New Zealand, Britain, and the Commonwealth well, as did his mother before him and her father before that. So on behalf of the National Party, I offer my warmest and most sincere and heartfelt congratulations to King Charles and to Queen Camilla on their coronations. Long live the King. Debate interrupted. MOTIONS His Majesty King Charles III—Coronation Debate resumed. NICOLE McKEE (ACT): Thank you, Mr Speaker. It's an honour to stand for the ACT Party to speak to the coronation of our new King, Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor of the United Kingdom. Born in Buckingham Palace on 14 November 1948, during the reign of his grandfather George VI, and aged 74 when crowned King of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth Realms over the weekend. He was three years old when he stood beside his grandmother and his Aunt Margaret for his mother's coronation in 1953. Our King was home-schooled in Buckingham Palace until just before his eighth birthday, when he was sent to school in West London, the first heir apparent to go to school instead of continuing home-schooling in the Palace. He was also sent to school in Scotland—where he described it as being at "Colditz in kilts"—as well as six months studying at Timbertop in Australia. He graduated from school in Berkshire as head boy, and instead of going straight into the armed forces, he went to Trinity College in Cambridge, where he studied archaeology and anthropology, followed by history. He extended himself further and went to the University College of Wales to study Welsh history and language for a term, the first heir apparent to earn a university degree. He said his schooling taught him a lot about himself, his own abilities and disabilities; it taught him to accept challenges and to take the initiative. Our King served in the Royal Air Force and the Navy, learning to fly the Chipmunk, and was presented his Royal Air Force wings in 1971. Later, he qualified as a helicopter pilot and joined the naval air squadron. He served with the Navy on the guided missile destroyer HMS Norfolk as well as the frigates HMS Minerva and HMS Jupiter, finishing his service in the Navy as commander of the HMS Bronington, the coastal minehunter. As King, he succeeds Queen Elizabeth II as the patron of the National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom, and his son Prince William will become the president in his role as Prince of Wales—a tradition that has spanned back to the 1800s. We've had a couple of King Charleses in the past. The rule of King Charles I led to a revolution and the temporary abolition of the monarchy. He was convicted of high treason and beheaded in 1625. King Charles II, son of King Charles I, took the throne in 1660 for 25 years when the monarchy was restored. This King Charles had to rule during the 1665 Great Plague and the 1666 Great Fire of London. The King Charles spaniel is named after him. Then there was the unrecognised King Charles III when, in 1745 and 1746, Charles Edward Stuart led the unsuccessful Jacobite rising, declaring himself King Charles III, but it was never acknowledged officially. He became known instead as Stuart the Pretender or Bonnie Prince Charlie. I'd like to finish up talking of some of the little-known facts about our official King Charles III. He likes eggs and chose a quiche as a signature dish. He's a fan of Emmerdale Farm. He's taken up many causes over the years, and one that he took up was for better equipment for British forces in Iraq. Another was to expand, not restrict, the availability of herbal medicines. He has a tree frog named after him, Prince Charles' magnificent tree frog, and The Guardian once reported that he converted his vintage Aston Martin to run on surplus English white wine and whey from the cheese process—biofuel. But it was thought that this could do more harm than good if it was adopted on a wider scale. King Charles III has spent 71 years preparing for his coronation day. His life experiences have taught him humility, understanding, and tolerance, all while his entire life has been on show to the world. Here to serve instead of being served equal. ACT welcomes King Charles III to the throne. Long live the King. Hon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green): On behalf of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, I would like to extend Charles, Camilla, and their respective families all the very best. A party vote was called for on the question, That this House congratulate His Majesty the King on the occasion of his coronation. Ayes 106 New Zealand Labour 62; New Zealand National 34; ACT New Zealand 10. Noes 3 Te Paati Māori 2; Whaitiri. Abstentions 10 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 9; Kerekere. Motion agreed to. PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS Hon Meka Whaitiri Hon MEKA WHAITIRI (Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): Point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek leave to make a personal explanation. SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none. Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: Mr Speaker, ko te amorangi ki mua, ko te hāpai ō ki muri. Ko te tūturutanga mahi pono o te Māori mana motuhake. He mangōpare amohia o te waka Takitimu. Tihei mauri ora. Ki a koe e te tuahine, mō tō karakia whakatuwhera, tēnā koe. Ki ngā mema o tēnei Whare e huihui mai nei nā runga i te karanga o te rā, tēnā koutou. Otirā koutou mā, taku hāpai ō, taku whānau, aku hoa, ngā kaitautoko o tēnei tūru, o tēnei kaupapa, koutou kua tae mai ā-tinana nei mai i ngā pito katoa o te motu, koutou mā e mātakitaki ana, ka nui taku aroha ki a koutou katoa e whakamana nei i tēnei rā whakahirahira. Nei rā te mokopuna a Hineahuone, a Tānenuiarangi, a Hinehau, a Epiha e tū whakaiti nei, tihei mauri ora ki te Whare. [Mr Speaker, the leader to the fore, the supporters follow. The honest realisation of the unique authority of the Māori people. The elevated hammerhead shark of the Takitimu canoe. The breath of life. To you, sister, for your opening karakia, greetings and thanks. To the members of this House that have gathered here in answer to the call of the day, greetings. Indeed, to you, my supporters, my family, my friends, the supporters of this seat and this occasion, you who came here in person from all corners of the country, you who are watching, my love is enormous for you that are endorsing this important day. Here is a grandchild of Hineahuone, Tānuiarangi, Hinehau, and Epiha that humbly stands here. Vitality and wellbeing to this House.] The decision to cross the floor to join Te Paati Māori was not an easy decision. But, for my whānau and I, it was the right decision. It is time to put our whakapapa first, to return to our people, to serve and work for our people—the calling that comes deep from within my puku. I come from a long line of pukumahi whānau—hard workers, boots on the ground, salt of the earth whānau. I was raised in the shearing sheds of Te Tai Rāwhiti and shaped at the freezing works of Whakatū, Hawke's Bay, where everyone worked hard and played hard. In fact, they called Whakatū the university of life. I was, however, fortunate to go to university—the second in my whānau. My late grandmother instilled in me the teachings of Sir Apirana Ngata: e tipu e rea—to learn the tools of the Pākehā—or, in my case, how Wellington worked so one day I could return home and— SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume her seat. Giving a personal explanation to the House is about something in the House; it's not a general debate. Ehara tēnei i te wā kia tū ake ki te tuku atu i te reo mihimihi ki ngā mea katoa, kia whakamārama kē he aha te take [This is not the time to stand to acknowledge everyone, but instead to explain the rationale], and I haven't heard it. I'll give the member another chance to explain exactly what it is that she is explaining to the House. It's not about giving a speech. Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: Mr Speaker, thank you for your guidance. This is my opportunity to explain the decision I've made. My decision to return back to the people was based on whakapapa and the calling home— SPEAKER: Thank you. Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: —and I am very pleased to stand in this House to say I have joined a party that enables the voice of wāhine Māori to be heard and not censured in this House. So I stand in support of what we are doing here. It is my opportunity to say that this House and those in this House, when we talk about a 50:50 gender—I want my voice to be heard. SPEAKER: But now we're getting into a whole nother debate. MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Emergency Management—Flooding in Auckland, 9 May 2023 Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): I wish to make a ministerial statement on flooding in Auckland today. The upper North Island is experiencing flooding caused by severe and concentrated rainfall. In Auckland, a state of local emergency has been declared by the mayor. A red severe thunderstorm warning is in place for Northland and Auckland. A line of thunderstorms is tracking across these regions and these are likely to be accompanied by torrential rain. An emergency mobile alert has been sent to the whole of the Auckland region advising people of potential impacts and suggesting they plan travel accordingly. Orange heavy rain warnings are in place for some regions, signalling significant rainfall for some areas over the next few days. We know that following the severe weather in January and Cyclone Gabrielle, many communities will be concerned, worried, or just completely over it, so we continue to stand alongside them. Whilst the response is being led by local civil defence emergency management (CDEM) groups, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has also activated the National Coordination Centre. This means NEMA is working closely with CDEM groups and partner agencies, coordinating requests for information and resources at a national level in support of the locally-led response. I wish to remind everyone listening that this is a potentially dangerous event. Please stay safe and don't take risks. Heavy rain can cause flooding, coastal inundation, and landslides, especially where the ground is saturated from recent rainfall. Follow the instructions of emergency services and local CDEM groups, and if you feel unsafe at any time, please evacuate to higher ground. Check Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency's website for road closures before you travel, and drive to the conditions. Please never walk or drive through floodwater and don't let children play in it. Keep up to date with MetService's watches and warnings, follow your local CDEM group on their social media accounts, and stay safe out there. I know that members across this House will join me in expressing our support for the affected communities and thanking everyone involved in the response as this situation unfolds. CHRIS PENK (National—Kaipara ki Mahurangi): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I do, on behalf of the National Party, indeed join the Minister in sending our best wishes to those who are affected by the developing situation in the upper part of the North Island. Even as we acknowledge that, other areas of the country continue to seek to recover and rebuild from other severe weather emergency events earlier in this year, including some of the same areas, indeed, that have been hit again today. The updates have been coming in recently so quickly that it is difficult to keep up with them all. There is a measure of uncertainty, therefore, about the situation on the ground, but we can say with certainty that those who have stepped up before have displayed the courage and the community spirit that I'm sure will be replicated again today. In anticipation, and, indeed, acknowledging the works that would already have been done in this space, we thank them, and I'm sure that there is not a member of this House who would not join me in saying that we wish them well. We ask them to be safe for their own sake, even as they put themselves in the line of fire, metaphorically speaking, to support and indeed to save others. We think of the first responder groups, formally designated. We also think of those within the community who group together informally, who step up as individuals to help out their fellow Kiwis in need, and we thank them all. In addition to the threat to physical life and limb today, we are cognisant as well that there will be a severe mental health toll arising from this event, including and especially where that follows similar events having taken place in similar areas before, and we hope that support will be provided in the days and weeks and months that follow for those who suffer trauma as a result of these repeated events. My final comment is just to muse—and I don't put this formally to the Minister today—about the possibility that this House can respond in a legislative way that will enable orders to be made quickly following such events. Of course, that took place recently with the support of most of Parliament as put forward by the Government. The National Party supported those moves in urgency because we thought it was the right thing to do to enable quick action to be taken. I think I'm right in saying that these events fall outside the remit, technically speaking, of that legislation, but it may be possible for the response that will be needed in respect of today's events to be included in that. That's a discussion for the future, and I don't make a formal proposal along those lines. But it seems to me that, unfortunately, as a nation and indeed as a House, these are matters to which we will need to give increasing attention in the years that come, even as we acknowledge that the danger is very much a present one. It is ongoing, and it is also expected to pose further risk today. So I join with the Minister and, indeed, would encourage anyone to follow the advice that he has given on the public health basis: follow official advice, and do the things necessary to keep yourself and others safe. We will watch with interest and respond as best we can, no doubt as a Parliament as a whole, to the events of today. DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of ACT in acknowledgment and support of the Minister for Emergency Management's motion regarding Auckland. Can I first start by acknowledging the situation at Abbey Caves in Northland. It is developing quickly and there may have been changes since I last checked the media, but as a Whangārei boy who has, shall we say, been made to climb through Abbey Caves by his school a few times, I can't imagine the distress that people will be feeling with severe rain and flooding and one student still in the caves. I think that our thoughts and prayers should be with those people in that situation up at Abbey Caves, just north of Whangārei. I further acknowledge the situation in Auckland and particularly in the Epsom electorate. I know that there is absolute gridlock in the traffic system, surface flooding in places, and, of course, enormous concern because of the devastation that occurred only three months ago at the end of January, or the beginning of February, when many homes were flooded, many vehicles were lost. In my recent door-knocking, I've found that the effects of that continue right up to this day. To then have another flooding event certainly brings about a large amount of trauma. In the immediacy, the mayor has declared a state of emergency locally for Auckland, delegated his responsibilities to Desley Simpson, the deputy mayor, and I know that Auckland Council will be under very good steerage with Desley. We expect heavy rains to continue, and what's important is that people stay safe, get home—assuming that their home is not affected—call 111 only if absolutely necessary because there is an immediate risk to people's life or their property, and to take shelter with friends if necessary. I see that there is one shelter out at Te Manawa library in Westgate, but that's a long way from most Aucklanders. Many people will be relying on friends and family, and there were so many touching examples of friends and family taking each other in in the late January flood. So you may be OK, but there may be people in your street, in your neighbourhood, in your family, in your workplace, or your friendship group who are in need of shelter and support over the 24 hours to come, or longer if these floods are bad. I know that, inevitably, this too shall pass and there will be some analysis of why this keeps happening and what can be done about it, and I just make the point that in a recent survey I did, sent to 6,000 households in the Epsom electorate electronically, I got back responses where, of those who were flooded, 55 percent were aware—in fact, actually, 55 percent of respondents; almost two-thirds of those who were flooded—of previous complaints about the performance of stormwater systems in their street. Of those, 35 percent of respondents had previously complained to council. I know that there will be a lot of people who will make the argument that this is proof that New Zealand must reduce its emissions. Well, it certainly should, but once you break down why people, real people on the ground, are being affected by events like this right now, the overwhelming majority of homes have actually been OK. The whole of the Stonefields development—well designed, well drained—was not affected by flooding. Places in the Epsom electorate and beyond, where there's been a lot of intensification and not as much investment in upgrading the drainage capacity and especially drain maintenance, are facing real challenges. That is a lesson that while we need to focus on the immediate challenge, we also need to learn from incidents like this and guide our future behaviour and policy making. In the meantime, I just wish safety for those affected in Abbey Caves, for those who are affected by flooding in Auckland, and, for those who are helping each other out, good on you. That is always the best of Auckland and New Zealand. We will get through it, because this too shall pass. Thank you, Mr Speaker. CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green—Auckland Central): E te Māngai, tēnā koe. Tēnā koutou te Whare. On behalf of the Greens and as our Auckland Central MP, I stand in support of the motion from the Minister for Emergency Management, and I actually have a few questions for him as I understand this format allows. But firstly, I just wanted to join with colleagues across the House in acknowledging the unfolding situation and the state of emergency before us, particularly the young person still lost in Northland, and their whānau, their community, and the front-line services who are responding to that unfolding situation. As other MPs have acknowledged, in times like this we do see what is important. We see what it is that we care about and what we focus on, and that is each other. That is our community. It is those values of compassion and care and concern for each other. To that effect, I think it is really important for all who may be listening today to know that the situation is still unfolding, and as my conversations with MetService and the Auckland emergency management bunker have demonstrated, there is the chance that weather may turn for the worst this evening, so Aucklanders and those up in Northland, those in the North Island should continue to remain in a state of vigilance to minimise travel where it is possible to stay home but also to be very aware of the potential of slips. To that effect, I do need to reflect on some of the statements that was put out just now by the leader of the ACT Party about how now may not necessarily be the time to reflect on climate change. As we are staring down and looking at yet another one-in-100-year weather event—the several that have occurred in just this year alone—I think that it is, in fact, a stark reminder of the very, very important responsibility that this House has for facing the scientific reality of climate change and for responding with the emergency and urgency that it requires in mitigation and adaptation. That is our responsibility as the supposed leaders of this country. To those questions to the Minister. Late last night, I received a call from firefighters at the front line, those involved in NZPFU—the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union—particularly those in the USAR team—the Urban Search and Rescue—my guys of Pitt Street station. They informed me that, with consultation and discussion with their geotechnical teams, and the risk of slips, and the concern about how much water had been absorbed in the ground over the first few months of this year, that it would make sense for those at the front line to potentially stand up their heavy rescue team but also to make capacity available for worker rescue. I know that they encountered some issues in feeding that up the food chain and trying to get that response, and the standing up of those services and those resources, and that did not occur until after a meeting was held at approximately 10.30 a.m. this morning. So, to that effect, my first question to the Minister is just about whether he is confident or comfortable with the flow of communication and the decisions that are being made with regard to, or not with enough regard to, the needs and the points as raised by those on the front line. The second question was about his confidence with regard to the resourcing that our front-line responders, particularly our firefighters but also our other community and volunteer services have. I'm aware, for example, that certain trucks that our firefighters are having to respond with in Northland have real limitations on their ability to enter flood water. So those two questions, if I may. The first is around the communication with the shop floor and the feeding up of that information to make critical decisions. The second is about the Minister's confidence in resourcing and the adequate equipment to respond to these supposed one-in-100-year weather events that seem to be continuing to happen. Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, and thank you to those members who contributed to that. It's one of the many examples that don't often get broadcast where the House comes together in full support of our emergency services and those that are working hard on the ground through civil defence and in their own communities. I'll do my best to address the points that were raised. I share Mr Penk's concern about the wellbeing of those that are affected by this. But, of course, we know that mental health consequences from such events don't always happen immediately and can occur over a long period of time. I want to encourage those that are struggling with this—or, indeed, the previous events—who may find themselves in hardship moving forward to, first of all, contact their GP and seek, of course, wellbeing support website—Need to talk? 1737 is the place to call for that—and, of course, we will do what we can to support those services to assist those that need it. In regards to the query about Fire and Emergency, the member knows that that is a matter for the Minister of Internal Affairs, who has oversight responsibility of Fire and Emergency New Zealand. However, I do know that the Minister was in touch with the national commander and that they have assured us that, as is always case, whenever urban search and rescue capacity is required, it will be dispatched. There may be a difference of opinion around when is the appropriate time or if, indeed, it is required, but we do continue to have confidence in Fire and Emergency New Zealand. It's not just the paid staff but the volunteers who step up and serve their community, quite often when they themselves have been affected. CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green—Auckland Central): Mr Speaker, if I may, the second question to the Minister was with regard to the resourcing for front-line equipment as well, and whether that is adequate to respond to these crises. Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): Well, thank you, Mr Speaker. The Government has increased the funding to Fire and Emergency New Zealand significantly over the last five years. We do know that particularly after the merger between urban and rural, that some deficiencies in utilities and equipment were identified, and that has been steadily addressed, and we will continue to do that. CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green—Auckland Central): As a follow-up—if I may, Mr Speaker—just to that point around greater resourcing deployed to Fire and Emergency New Zealand in particular, the Minister may have heard some concerns, particularly from those on the front lines, as echoed throughout the industrial action at the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union over the past few years, about how that may potentially be filtering down to the front lines. I wonder if the Minister has any of those concerns himself; if so, how it may be that we as a House can go about addressing those potential concerns. Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): Before I was elected to Parliament, I was a volunteer firefighter myself, and so I have seen significant improvement in the resourcing in that service since this Government came in. I'd like to reiterate the commitment I just made—that that support for the essential services will continue under this Government. CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green—Auckland Central): Respectfully, that wasn't my question. My question was about how those resources filter down to the front lines. So my question to the Minister: does the Minister feel confident with how those resources that are being granted to that organisation, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, are filtering into the equipment and the front-line staff necessary to respond to these emergencies? SPEAKER: Yeah, I will give a little bit of leeway. This is not question time or a supplementary question, and I note the member's time has concluded, but did the Minister want to respond in any way? Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): Well, the Government has absolute confidence in Fire and Emergency New Zealand. Time and time again, they have responded at very short notice to assist their communities, and, again, I reiterate the commitment that this Government has to adequately resource and support our fire and emergency personnel. Any operational decisions and specifics around that is a question for them, but we continue to support them in the best way we can. SPEAKER: OK, and the Minister has two more minutes to respond, if he wishes to. Hon KIERAN McANULTY: Oh, nah. SPEAKER: PETITIONS, PAPERS, SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS, AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLS SPEAKER: No petitions have been delivered to the Clerk for presentation. No papers have been delivered for presentation. Select committee reports have been delivered for presentation. CLERK: Report of the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee on the Companies (Directors Duties) Amendment Bill Report of the Education and Workforce Committee on the Health and Safety at Work (Health and Safety Representatives and Committees) Amendment Bill Reports of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee on the: Petition of Democracy For Myanmar Working Group New Zealand, and the Petition of Niranjan Herath. SPEAKER: The bills are set down for second reading. No bills have been introduced. ORAL QUESTIONS QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS Question No. 1—Prime Minister 1. CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green—Auckland Central) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement, and I quote, "I think overall there are some New Zealanders who perhaps aren't contributing their fair share"? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Prime Minister): Yes. Chlöe Swarbrick: Has he considered the Minister of Finance's pre-Budget statement: "The Treasury has estimated the cost of asset damage from the floods and Cyclone at between $9 billion and $14.5 billion, with half of that related to infrastructure owned by central or local government such as roads."; and, if so, does he think that a higher effective tax rate on super-wealthy New Zealanders could allow Aotearoa to better recover from natural disasters? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In answer to the first part of the question, yes. Chlöe Swarbrick: Does he agree with the outcomes of our current tax system, which encourages the super-wealthy to accumulate assets such as property and hoard billions to the extent that 311 families in this country hold more wealth than the bottom 2.5 million New Zealanders? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The Labour Party set out its tax policy very clearly at the last election. We're sticking to that tax policy. We will set out our tax policy for the next election in due course, and then we will stick to that as well. Chlöe Swarbrick: Does he stand by his statement, then: "The new Cabinet will be focused on core bread and butter issues like the cost of living, education, health, housing and keeping our communities and businesses safe."; and, if so, does he agree that a wealth or capital gains tax would enable greater investment in those bread and butter issues? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In answer to the first part of the question, yes—although perhaps slightly less dramatically. Chlöe Swarbrick: Is it equitable for mega-rich New Zealanders who have a combined wealth of $85 billion to pay less than half the effective tax rate of ordinary New Zealanders, as found in the IRD's latest tax report? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: New Zealanders can make their own judgments on that. That's why the research was done, and the report has now been made public. Chlöe Swarbrick: Does he agree that more tax revenue from a wealth or capital gains tax would ensure that Aotearoa had a standard of living that his Government could be proud of? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Mr Speaker, it's a hypothetical question that the member is asking. Question No. 2—Prime Minister 2. CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Prime Minister): Yes, particularly the Government's action in securing a gold-standard free-trade agreement with the United Kingdom, unlocking unprecedented access to the UK market. This is expected to boost New Zealand's goods exports to the UK by over 50 percent and add up to $1 billion to New Zealand's annual GDP. The UK is New Zealand's seventh-largest trading partner and a crucial market for some of our key exports such as wine, honey, red meat, and dairy. So this agreement will benefit our economic recovery and help to tackle the rising cost of living for New Zealand families. Christopher Luxon: Does he take any responsibility for the fact that according to Treasury "the economy is tracking weaker than forecast."? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The New Zealand economy is not immune from the broader economic pressure that is being seen around the globe. I note a number of countries are experiencing a lot of economic pressure at the moment, as the member will be well aware from his recent travels to the UK, although I think he was too busy running down the New Zealand economy, perhaps, to pay any attention to that. Christopher Luxon: What impact will the weakening economy have on Kiwis— Hon Dr Megan Woods: More campaigning on the taxpayer's dime. Christopher Luxon:—already struggling with mortgage, food, and childcare costs, and why has he ruled out giving them tax relief at the Budget? SPEAKER: Order! Sorry. Is that the Hon Dr Megan Woods interjecting during a question? Hon Dr Megan Woods: It was. SPEAKER: It was. This is becoming quite common. Yeah, I'm just wondering if I should escalate it up the ladder a bit. Well, you've been warned, so stand, withdraw, and apologise. Hon Dr Megan Woods: I withdraw and apologise. Christopher Luxon: Can I ask my question again? SPEAKER: Yes, please. Christopher Luxon: What impact will the weakening economy have on Kiwis already struggling with mortgage, food, and childcare costs, and why has he ruled out giving them tax relief at the Budget? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: One of the challenges with tax relief at this point is that it has the potential to be inflationary, thus ensuring that interest rates stay higher for longer and, therefore, potentially meaning families would be worse off. Hon Meka Whaitiri: Will he guarantee that cultural competency is a prerequisite for all senior public appointments in light of his statement of King Tūheitia in London that "Clearly there's a reminder here that we can think more carefully about how we do that in the future."? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I absolutely stand by the statement that the member just quoted. Hon Meka Whaitiri: Will he recall the high commissioner to London, who demonstrated a clear lack of cultural understanding in welcoming Kīngi Tūheitia and the New Zealand delegation to London last week? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: No. Christopher Luxon: Does he consider adjusting income tax brackets to be "a major tax change", or can Kiwis actually finally expect a reduction in their income tax bill at the Budget now that it's an election year? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I just addressed that in my last question. Significant tax reductions, at this point, would likely result in higher inflation for longer. Christopher Luxon: Why has the deficit blown out by $2.5 billion in just the last five months, and why is the Government continuing to spend so much more than it takes in, despite record inflation? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I'd encourage the member to wait and see what the Budget forecasts are saying. It's not too long to go now to when the most updated Government finances will be released, but it is fair to say that the Government finances have been affected by the broader economic situation. Christopher Luxon: Is the only reason he's flirting with a capital gains tax because he needs more of New Zealanders' money to fuel his Government's addiction to spending? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I note that the member himself, consistently in the first part of his leadership, was arguing for the Government to spend more money, even after the Reserve Bank started hiking the official cash rate. In fact, in between each of the first hikes that the Reserve Bank made to the official cash rate, he made policy announcements indicating the Government should be spending more money. David Seymour: Does the Prime Minister accept that in five years, Government expenditure has increased by 61 percent, 34 percent ahead of inflation, and can he give a measurable example of any Government service that is 34 percent better today than it was five years ago? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Well, I'll give the member one policy initiative: there are 220,000 children who go to school every day and receive a free and healthy lunch because of the policies introduced by this Government. Christopher Luxon: Will he rule out introducing a capital gains tax, a wealth tax, or an inheritance tax while he is Prime Minister? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I've made very clear commitments that they won't be in this year's Budget. Of course, the Labour Party will set out its manifesto around tax for the next election, and, ultimately, New Zealanders will decide. Christopher Luxon: Why is it that Jacinda Ardern could rule out a capital gains tax as Prime Minister, yet he can't? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I note that she did that in the context of a general election campaign. Christopher Luxon: Why can't you just stop playing politics and come clean about your plans to tax Kiwis more for his Government's wasteful addiction to spending? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I completely reject the notion the Speaker is playing politics. Question No. 3—Cyclone Recovery 3. ANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) to the Minister for Cyclone Recovery: What actions is the Government taking to respond to Cyclone Gabrielle? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister for Cyclone Recovery): Before I start my answer, I do want to acknowledge that many of those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle are the same people affected by the extreme weather events today, and we continue to express our sympathies and we will continue to support them. The Government is continuing to take action to provide certainty and assurance to communities and regions that have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. More than $860 million of additional support has been committed so far, including significant investment in our roading and rail network. It also includes $75 million to help small and medium sized businesses in the clean-up from the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. More than 3,500 small businesses have been approved for grants to support their recovery. The Government is supporting our rural communities through more than $73 million in direct cyclone recovery grants and funding and some 5,084 applications for grants have been approved, totalling $57 million in support so far. We are committed to a locally led, centrally supported response, working with communities to get them back on their feet, and regions back moving, as we move into the recovery and rebuild phases from Cyclone Gabrielle. Anna Lorck: What is the Government doing to support councils and businesses with silt and debris removal in response to the cyclone? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Last week, the Government announced the allocation of $102 million to help councils process and dispose of the debris coming from residential properties and to deal with sediment on council land to make it available to the public again. There was also $70 million allocated for commercial properties, adding on to already granted money, including for farmers and growers to help them clean up their land, and return to profit. There is also funding for debris and sediment removal from whenua Māori. Anna Lorck: What recent work has been done to assess property affected by Cyclone Gabrielle? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: We know that this is a significant issue facing communities and we acknowledge the uncertainty and impact that this has on people, and we're working very hard to provide as much certainty as soon as possible. The cyclone task force is working with councils and insurance companies to assess the risk status of affected areas. Three categories have been settled on, under which the future flood- and landslide-affected properties will be assessed. The intention is to complete assessments for low-risk properties in category one quickly so that people in those homes can settle with their insurance companies and get on with their recovery. Decisions on properties under category two where community- or property-level interventions will manage future severe weather event risk, and category three, which will identify areas that are not safe to live in because of the unacceptable risk of future flooding and loss of life, will take a little longer. No decisions on properties or communities will be made without comprehensive consultation and engagement with communities, mana whenua, and other stakeholders. This is a stressful time for those waiting to hear about the future of their properties. It is important that we make the right decisions here, and I want to assure people we're doing all we can to move this process as quickly and effectively as we can. Anna Lorck: How well placed is New Zealand to deal with the consequences of extreme weather events? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The Treasury has estimated the cost of asset damage from the floods and cyclone at between $9 billion and $14.5 billion, with half of that related to infrastructure owned by central or local government, such as roads and rail. This will require significant planning and sequencing of resources over the months and years ahead. But we are committed to supporting those affected through the recovery and rebuild. New Zealand is in a strong financial position to support our people through these challenging times, thanks to our careful management of the Government's books. The Government's debt level sits at 19.1 percent of GDP, well below our debt ceiling, and among the lowest in the OECD. We are well placed to deal with the impact of this extreme weather and any other future shocks. Question No. 8 to Minister SPEAKER: Before I call question No. 4, it's come to my attention that there is a typo in question No. 8. It should refer to correspondence with the Ministry of Education, not the Minister of Education. So I've asked the member, when we come to question No. 8, that she asks as she submitted, and Speaker's ruling 180/1 allows that correction to a typo. Question No. 4—Prime Minister 4. DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Prime Minister): Yes, in particular the action through this year's Budget to deliver the biggest pay increase in over a decade for defence force personnel and to build on this Government's record investments in upgrading New Zealand's military capability. We have an obligation to ensure that our soldiers, sailors, and aviators are fairly paid for the critical and often dangerous work that they do, and this Government takes that responsibility very seriously on behalf of all New Zealanders. David Seymour: What percentage of GDP will be spent in defence as a result of this announcement, and how will that compare with Australia's recent announcement that they will be going beyond 2 percent of GDP as they respond to the geopolitical realities of the South Pacific? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Our spend on defence—depending on how you measure it—hovers at around 1 percent of GDP. Our Government is very much focused on the capability we need rather than a spending target. I would have thought that the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers would be more interested in what we are paying for rather than how much we are paying for it. David Seymour: Is the Prime Minister seriously saying that he believes that the New Zealand Defence Force will be able to deliver the level of service expected by Australians for half the budget, and could he explain what magic they'll be using? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I'm not so much focused on the level of service expected by Australians; I'm focused on the level of service expected by New Zealanders. What they are looking for is a defence force that is well resourced and equipped to be able to respond to the challenges in front of them. That includes being able to deploy to natural disasters, as we have seen them doing in recent times very successfully. It means contributing to the international efforts that we do currently contribute to and may wish to contribute to in the future. And it means ensuring that we have the capabilities that we need, such as, for example, for search and surveillance. I note that this Government has invested heavily in ensuring the futureproofing of those capabilities, something that the previous Government, supported by the ACT Party, never did. David Seymour: Does he stand by his statement "If you look at the apprehension rate for people who have undertaken that offending, it's very high. Police have done a good job of finding those people" when the apprehension rate in question for retail burglaries was only 19 percent? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: As I made clear at the time, I wasn't referring to all burglaries. I was referring particularly to ram raids, because that was the context of the question that was being asked. So, if you look across 1,100 such offences since the beginning of last year, there have been just under 700 prosecutions, just under 300 youth referrals, and there are around 200 that remain under active investigation. I think the police have been doing very good work in following up on that offending and ensuring that those who have been doing it face the consequences for their actions. David Seymour: So retail burglary offenders getting away with it 81 percent of the time is OK, because that's not what the Prime Minister was talking about—right? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: No, I didn't claim that. I do note that the work the police have done in recent years to make it easier for retailers to report retail crime, including shoplifting, does mean that police have a fuller picture now of the true extent of that activity. I think that is a good thing, and police will continue to follow up on it. David Seymour: Does he still stand by his statement when there were more than 3,000 aggravated robberies but only 1,300 proceedings taken against offenders last year? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Whether or not a proceeding takes place does not necessarily provide the full picture of the response from police. I do want to note that, under this Government, we have nearly—we've nearly got there—1,800 extra police on the beat. And I note that the ACT Party voted against the funding to deliver that. David Seymour: Does he stand by his 31 January statement that "The new Cabinet will be focused on core bread and butter issues", and does he believe Stuart Nash, Kiri Allan, and Meka Whaitiri have all been focused on core bread and butter issues? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In answer to the first part of the question, yes, I absolutely do. David Seymour: And what about those three Ministers that went missing? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I dealt with all of those at the time. Question No. 5—Housing 5. SHANAN HALBERT (Labour—Northcote) to the Minister of Housing: What action is the Government taking to support the residential construction sector and increase the supply of housing? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Housing): The residential development construction sector is prone to boom and bust cycles. Following the global financial crisis, the supply of new, affordable housing dropped significantly, which pushed house prices up. To provide some counter-cyclical support, the Government is stepping in to support some build-ready developments by purchasing land or underwriting homes off the plans to reduce risk for developers, which means we can continue to build affordable homes. Shanan Halbert: How is the Government partnering with developers to continue the delivery of affordable homes? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: We know that we must build our way out of our current housing crisis, so it is vital that we maintain momentum in the sector as the headwinds grow. To do this, the Government is working with developers to support stalled developments in areas where there is high need for new housing through the Build Ready Development Pathway. Through round one, we've supported eight developments across the country, enabling 144 homes in Tauranga, Hastings, and Lower Hutt. A second round which will support more developments opens next week. Shanan Halbert: What other initiatives does the Government have under way to support the delivery of more affordable homes? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: The Government is supporting the delivery of thousands of affordable homes across New Zealand through the Government's underwrite for residential housing. Last week, I opened Ockham Residential's 117 apartment Aroha development in Avondale. Aroha, Ockham's fourth development assisted by the Government underwrite for residential housing, KiwiBuild, and our Land for Housing programme, would not have gone ahead without Government intervention. During a downturn, the Government must be an active partner with industry to secure the delivery of affordable homes, not just a spectator, and we're getting on with the job. Shanan Halbert: And what else has the Government done to enable the delivery of more affordable homes? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: The $1 billion Infrastructure Acceleration Fund, part of our $3.8 billion Housing Acceleration Fund, is supporting the delivery of critical infrastructure projects in 28 New Zealand cities and towns. Combined, these projects are expected to enable between 30,000 and 35,000 new homes over the next 10 to 15 years. Funding recipients have overwhelmingly reported being on track with their programmes, with two developments in Waimakariri and Lake Hāwea ahead of schedule with their civil works. I am encouraged to report that across the country there are 71 houses complete, 101 under construction, and 635 having building consents approved. Question No. 6—Justice 6. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Justice: Is she confident that all legislation she is responsible for is working effectively; if not, why not? Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Minister of Justice): The member, of course, will be well aware that that's a very broad inquiry. As the Minister of Justice, I'm responsible for 155 pieces of legislation. While generally these laws are working effectively, in a portfolio this broad there will always be areas that regularly need to be reviewed and updated. For example, since I became the Minister of Justice, I have passed or introduced legislation that gives police more powers to pursue organised crime, strengthened counter-terrorism regimes, increased community participation in alcohol licensing decisions, improved access to legal aid, reduced delays in the Family Court, expanded the Māori electoral option, and improved the transparency of the electoral donations regime. Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does she believe there is a problem with the Official Information Act (OIA) that is leading to the long delays in replies coming from her colleague Willie Jackson's office for OIA requests, or is it more one of the culture within her Government? Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: With respect to the first part, my understanding is that the Hon Willie Jackson is aware that a mistake was made in his office, and it is subsequently being rectified. To the overarching efficacy and efficiency of the OIA scheme, in my mind, the law itself is generally sound and should the status of the Official Information Act ever change, the Government would be seeking cross-party engagement on any forthcoming changes to the legislation. But what I will say is that this Government has taken a very proactive approach to transparency. In particular, I note that the Government has introduced the proactive release of Cabinet papers—with three-quarters of papers being released within the policy agreed by Cabinet—and introduced the monthly proactive release of ministerial diaries. I also note that, in terms of parliamentary scrutiny, the Government has answered 113,000 written parliamentary questions in the last parliamentary term, compared to 41,500 by the previous National Government in their previous term. Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does she believe amendments to the Ombudsmen Act are required following her colleague Willie Jackson's refusal to answer questions from the Ombudsman in a timely fashion, or is the issue more a question of culture within her Government? Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: No. Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does she think there's an issue with the wording of Official Information Act that allows RNZ to use RNZ tikanga as contributing to the decision not to release a transcript of her speech to that organisation, or would she say that the problem lies with RNZ's culture? Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: No. Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does she believe the waka jumping provisions of the Electoral Act are working effectively when it appears all it takes for MPs to avoid it is not to send in the right letter? Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: I do. As the scheme was introduced at the outset, it was always intended to be an opt-in scheme. The legislation is very clear. Question No. 7—Health 7. Dr TRACEY McLELLAN (Labour—Banks Peninsula) to the Minister of Health: What action is the Government taking to ease winter pressure on the health system? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Minister of Health): Last week, I announced the Government's comprehensive plan to ease winter pressure on the health system. This plan is being led by Te Whatu Ora and includes 24 initiatives to help support community care and reduce hospital demand. Dr Tracey McLellan: How will our new national health system help us deliver this plan? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: This winter, a reformed health system is allowing us to identify successful local programmes and scale them across the country, tailoring any healthcare approach to meet unique needs. Resources will be shared across health facilities within a region, with providers working together. Coordination at a national level means the health system is better prepared to respond locally and connect people to share knowledge and deliver services this winter. Dr Tracey McLellan: Can you tell us some of the specific actions in the plan? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: Our plan is focused on a combination of improving access to health services for people closer to where they live, as well as measures that can help manage the demand for hospital-level care over winter. It includes support for pharmacies to treat minor ailments, hospital in the home services, increased access to radiology services in the community, and community rapid response tools to lessen hospital admissions for our most vulnerable people. Dr Tracey McLellan: How will the plan ease pressure on the health system this winter? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: These initiatives are being driven by Te Whatu Ora to reinforce the message that the care at the right time, at the right place is required. They will deliver health services to people closer to where they live, ultimately alleviating additional pressure on hospitals. It's important people feel confident they can get the healthcare they need this winter, and I'm fully supporting this plan to deliver it. Question No. 8—Education 8. ERICA STANFORD (National—East Coast Bays) to the Minister of Education: What information did her staff provide her after question time on 22 February when they informed her of their correspondence with the Ministry of Education about the release of the term 3 attendance data, and when did they first show her their correspondence with the Ministry that was subsequently released to me under the Official Information Act? Hon JAN TINETTI (Minister of Education): To the first part of the question: my staff verbally informed me after question time on 22 February that members of my staff had been in correspondence with the Ministry of Education regarding the timing of term 3 attendance data release. To the second part of the question: I first saw copies of the correspondence the member is referring to when it came to me for sign-out approval under the Official Information Act. I am aware that the member has been suggesting that information shows that my office inappropriately interfered with the release of term 3 attendance data. While I disagree with that allegation, to provide greater transparency going forward I have written to the Secretary of Education requesting the Ministry of Education consider publishing a forward-looking timeline on when attendance data will be released for each term on their website. Erica Stanford: How can it be that she said, "I can categorically tell that member that the Ministry of Education is responsible for the data. I have no say over that." and then still believe that her answers were not misleading, when her staff told her that they did play a part in releasing the data after she made those misleading comments? Hon JAN TINETTI: Because I felt that my answers reflected what I was intending them to mean at the time of the delivery, which is that the Ministry of Education is responsible for the collation and release of the term 3 data. Erica Stanford: In relation to that answer, how can she miss out the last part of her quote, which says, "I have no say over that.", and still believe that her questions were not misleading, when her staff told her that they had been in contact with the ministry to delay the release of the term 3 data? Hon JAN TINETTI: As I've just said, because I felt my answers reflected what I was intending to mean at the time of delivery, which is that the Ministry of Education is responsible for the collation and release of the term 3 attendance data. Mr Speaker, you wrote to me following a letter from the member regarding information that was provided to her by my office under the Official Information Act. You requested that I make a personal statement to correct my answers to supplementary questions on 22 February, which I have done. You have subsequently written to the member informing her that there was no breach of privilege. I have written to the Ministry of Education asking it to proactively publish when attendance data will be released for each term so this situation doesn't happen again. SPEAKER: The problem with bringing the Speaker into the House is that I have to get up and clarify things. I did not ask you to do that; I just set out that if that was the case, then the member can come to correct it. I'll give the member an extra question. Erica Stanford: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can she explain why she didn't know that she'd mislead the House until 1 May when the Speaker contacted her, when she signed off an Official Information Act request prior to 11 April containing the very emails showing her staff did delay the release of the term 3 attendance data until after her political announcement? Hon JAN TINETTI: Firstly, those emails did not show that. I will say that the emails themselves, under the Official Information Act, talked about the data coming forward. Secondly, what I will say to that member is that I stand by what I thought on that particular day, but I stand corrected from advice that was since given to me on 1 May. Erica Stanford: Can she explain to this House how she doesn't believe that her staff were deliberately delaying the release of the data when their email states, "The plan is to release it after the announcement—and that announcement is scheduled for Thursday. So Friday would be the day."? Hon JAN TINETTI: Because at the time, the Ministry of Education was talking about a much later date releasing that data. Erica Stanford: Did she just believe that the timing of the release of the data at the same time as her political announcement was pure coincidence? Hon JAN TINETTI: I actually think that the data and the political announcement on the same day was coincidence. Erica Stanford: Can she assure this House that her office has not played a part in influencing the timing of the release of the attendance data on any other occasion during her time as Minister? Hon JAN TINETTI: If the member is referring to other data, yes I can confirm that. Question No. 9—Defence 9. LEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE (Labour) to the Minister of Defence: What recent announcements has he made on Defence Force funding? Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Defence): Yesterday, I was happy to announce that Budget 2023 will invest $419 million over four years to deliver the biggest pay increase in over a decade to our defence personnel. A number of factors have led to a significant pressure on our Defence Force. These include high rates of staff turnover, as well as an increase in calls on the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) such as responding to Cyclone Gabrielle, training Ukrainian troops in the UK, and surveillance and patrolling in our region. Attracting and retaining more New Zealanders into our Defence Force means we need to ensure that wages are competitive. This investment helps achieve that. We have a moral obligation, as the Prime Minister has said, to ensure our soldiers, sailors, and aviators are fairly paid for the critical and often dangerous work that they do, and this Government takes that responsibility seriously on behalf of all New Zealanders. In addition to that, I also announced yesterday $328 million for upgrading our Defence Force assets and infrastructure to ensure that we can better work with our partners to meet our commitments here, in the Pacific, and abroad. Lemauga Lydia Sosene: How will this investment affect pay rates for defence personnel? Hon ANDREW LITTLE: With this investment, the pay of many NZDF personnel, including new recruits and skilled lower-ranked service personnel, will increase by between $4,000 and $15,000 from 1 July. Ninety percent of NZDF personnel will now be paid at or close to market rates for comparable roles, and this will go a long way to address attrition issues and make defence a career of choice. This increase is four times greater than any previous defence remuneration boost since 2014. Lemauga Lydia Sosene: What will this package provide regarding defence housing? Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Many personnel in the NZDF and their families are asked to move between bases to serve, and it's important that the housing provided is suitable to support them to do their jobs: $85.5 million will go towards the renovation and modernisation of 13 houses at Linton, Ōhākea, and Burnham, and a significant investment of 50 new houses at Waiōuru to continue the Government's commitment to progress the commercial redress partnership in the Ngāti Rangi Claims Settlement Act 2019. Providing housing that is safe, futureproofed, and fit for the needs of personnel at individual camps and bases will ensure that personnel are healthy and well positioned to perform their roles effectively when and where we need them. Lemauga Lydia Sosene: What will this package mean for upgrading defence equipment and infrastructure? Hon ANDREW LITTLE: It's important that New Zealand has the personnel and equipment to play our part in supporting global peace and security. That's why we're investing $90 million for a new aviation fuelling facility at Ōhākea to support our new P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, and $59 million to extend the life of our two Anzac Class frigates through to the mid-2030s. In addition, we're also investing $93 million to provide world-class communications systems to meet the most recent international interoperability and security standards, and to ensure secure communication with our partners on our frigates and our new Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles. This will allow for the state of the art voice and data transfer on encrypted platforms. Question No. 10—Health 10. MATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri) to the Minister of Health: Why did a mental health patient wait 94 hours in the Auckland Hospital emergency department in late March, and how much has been spent of the $27.45 million announced for crisis mental health services in Budget 2022? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Minister of Health): Firstly, the head of the hospital has apologised to these patients, and I agree that this kind of experience for patients is unacceptable. To the first part of that question, I am advised that the patient arrived at a very busy time in the emergency department and for the acute mental health inpatient service. A suitable bed was not available and the patient was not well enough to be discharged at the time. The staff of the hospital searched tirelessly for a bed until they found one. In the meantime, this patient was assessed and treated by staff in a bed in the short-stay unit. To the second part of the question, Budget 2022 included a specialist mental health and addictions services package within which is the delivery of eight community-based alternative crisis services across a mix of small, medium, and large areas of New Zealand. Of the $2.5 million available this year, the estimated spend at 30 June will be $0.825 million. The commencement of the spend has been slightly delayed, but I am advised that five services are due to begin in June 2023. Matt Doocey: So is the Minister saying, on one hand, mental health patients are waiting up to 94 hours in emergency departments and, on the other hand, of the $27.5 million announced for crisis mental health services, less than $1 million of that has been spent, and can the Minister tell the House what the connection between those two is? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: Well, it's not for me to tell the House what that member thinks the connection between those two things is, because, of course, it is not clear that that patient would have been suitable to move to a community setting. However, I am clear that those services were part of a budget that spending for that rolled up over time, and those services are due to start in the coming months. Matt Doocey: How will we ever know whether that patient would have qualified for that crisis mental health service, when the Minister has admitted the Government has failed to spend the money promised on that initiative? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: I am advised the services will be stood up in June. Matt Doocey: So how will the service that is going to be stood up in June help a patient that waited for 94 hours in an emergency department, that was described by one health professional as the longest wait time for a mental health patient ever in New Zealand's emergency department, help that person? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: I understand the member's frustration with that situation and I have also said that it is unacceptable. But that member makes an assumption about the clinical needs of that patient that neither of us are in a position to make. Question No. 11—Commerce and Consumer Affairs 11. NAISI CHEN (Labour) to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What advice has the Commerce Commission issued to help reduce costs for Kiwis when shopping? Hon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs): Kia ora, Mr Speaker. The Commerce Commission says Kiwis can take steps to avoid retailer credit card fees, and retailers should be more transparent about how consumers can do this. The commission is concerned that many people think they have no option but to pay the surcharge at the end of their transaction. Usually, this is not true. You have the option of inserting or swiping your debit or EFTPOS card rather than using the contactless function, and this should not incur a fee. The Commerce Commission believes consumers should have the informed choice of which payment method best meets their needs and budget, and it is taking action accordingly. Andrew Bayly: That's going to solve the cost of living crisis! SPEAKER: Andrew Bayly will stand, withdraw, and apologise. Andrew Bayly: I withdraw—and apologise. Naisi Chen: What action has the Commerce Commission taken to support consumers in this matter? Hon Dr DUNCAN WEBB: The Commerce Commission is reminding businesses that any surcharges must be clearly disclosed and any reasons for the surcharge must be accurately described, to avoid breaching the Fair Trading Act. It also noted that businesses should contact their payment service provider if they do not clearly understand the costs they are paying. Most importantly, the levels of the surcharges should not be in excess of the costs of accepting the payment. Naisi Chen: What actions has the commission taken to tackle problematic practices by retailers? Hon Dr DUNCAN WEBB: Lots. The commission has published materials to assist merchants who are surcharging to do so appropriately and to ensure consumers know their options. The commission has also written to a number of large merchants, raising concerns about the level of their surcharges. In addition to their work with merchants, the commission has published an open letter to payment service providers to set its expectations that merchants impose surcharges only in a transparent and fair manner. Naisi Chen: What should Kiwis do when paying at the store if they are concerned about payment surcharges? Hon Dr DUNCAN WEBB: Kiwi consumers should expect that their payment options at the terminal are transparent and fair. If it is unclear, they should ask what surcharges are being added to their purchase and whether there are any other payment options with lower or no surcharges. Kiwi consumers can also expect both retailers and their payment service providers to ensure fair and transparent options for payments and should speak up when they have concerns. I am also encouraging retailers and payment providers to follow the commission's guidance. When this happens, consumers should start to see some surcharges at the checkout reduced—good news for Kiwi shoppers. Question No. 12—Police 12. Hon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister of Police: Does she stand by her statement, "It is my view that New Zealanders feel safer"; if so, why? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN (Minister of Police): I stand by my full statement—and quote—"It is my view that New Zealanders feel safer within a Government on track to deliver 1,800 extra police." The member has wilfully omitted the second half of my sentence. As Minister— SPEAKER: Order! You cannot say that; that's tantamount to saying someone is lying. The Minister will stand, withdraw, and apologise. Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I withdraw and apologise. SPEAKER: And I take it the answer's over— Hon Mark Mitchell: Can I take an extra— SPEAKER: I'll give the member an extra two questions. Hon Mark Mitchell: Yeah, thank you, Mr Speaker. Does she think the 33 percent increase in violent crime makes New Zealanders feel safer? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I continue to work as Minister of Police to make sure that our communities are safe in three main areas: by backing our police by having 1,800 extra police officers, by making sure we focus on retail crime by delivering fog cannons and extra security measures, and, thirdly, by addressing youth offending with specific programmes in those areas to make sure we address the underlying drivers of crime. Hon Mark Mitchell: Does the Minister think that the 1,800 police are making Kiwis feel safer? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: Let me be clear: as Minister, I am committed to making New Zealanders feel safe by tackling crime. That is quite different from what the member said in the statement. Oddly, the member appears to be suggesting that New Zealanders feel safer with fewer members of the police on the front line. Hon Mark Mitchell: Does she think a 551 percent increase in ram raids makes shopkeepers and their employees feel safer? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: One ram raid more is always one ram raid too much. I will continue to work by resourcing our front line adequately, by making sure the retail crime prevention scheme is focused on making sure those measures are in place, and also the backing up of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment scheme which enables retail providers to have access to things like a fog cannon quickly. Hon Mark Mitchell: Does she think that a 61 percent increase in gang membership is making New Zealanders feel safer? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I continue to make sure that New Zealanders feel safer by making sure our front line are resourced adequately. The 1,800 additional front-line police officers also include 700 police officers specifically dedicated to organised crime, which means operations like Cobalt can continue to deliver outcomes like 35,000 charges specific to gang members and organised crime—far greater than any achieved under previous Governments. Hon Mark Mitchell: Have ram raids gone up or down since she became Minister? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I couldn't hear the question. Hon Mark Mitchell: Have ram raids increased or decreased since she became police Minister? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: Ram raids increased into August last year and they peaked at 119. That has continued to track down. As I've said before, one ram raid is always one ram raid too much. I will continue to make sure we reduce retail crime by making sure our front line is adequately resourced and also by making sure retail owners have the security measures in place they need to keep safe. Hon Mark Mitchell: Point of order, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The question was very specific. It was: have ram raids increased or decreased since she has become Minister of Police? SPEAKER: Well, all right. The Minister did go back to before she was Minister, but, in doing so, I believe it has been addressed. Dan Rosewarne: Is the Minister aware of any parties that voted against firearms legislation that would've made it harder for gangs to get hold of guns? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: Yes, I am, and I'd like to continue by saying we're going to work collaboratively right across this House when we have a firearm registry. I'm keen to be talking with members of other parties about how we can make sure we keep firearms out of the hands of those organised criminal groups and enable our legal firearms owners to have a safe and smooth pathway on that basis. URGENT DEBATES DECLINED Severe Weather Event—Northern Areas of Aotearoa New Zealand SPEAKER: Members, I have received a letter from Chlöe Swarbrick seeking to debate under Standing Order 399 the severe weather event currently unfolding in northern parts of Aotearoa. The weather is not a matter for which there is ministerial responsibility. The application is declined. I would remind members of Speakers' ruling 198/6 made by successive Speakers going back to 1984 that every statement as an urgent debate application must be authenticated. Applications received without authentication are declined on that ground.