Parliament - Live Stream and Question Time

Questions to Ministers STUART SMITH to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the cost of living? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister of Justice: What actions is the Government taking to reduce harm caused by gangs and to make communities safer? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his decision to appoint a Health New Zealand commissioner, and does he stand by his commitment not to cut front-line services at Health New Zealand? JOSEPH MOONEY to the Minister of Police: How many members of the Comancheros motorcycle gang are facing charges following recent Police operations? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations: E tautoko ana ia i tana ki taurangi ki te whakatika i te Ture Takutai Moana 2011; mena ae, he aha tana whakaritenga ki te whakautu ki te Urgent Inquiry Stage 1 Report Takutai Moana Act 2011 na te Taraipiunara o Waitangi? Does he stand by his commitment to amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act 2011; if so, what is his plan to respond to the Waitangi Tribunal's Takutai Moana Act 2011 Urgent Inquiry Stage 1 Report? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister of Police: What advice, if any, has he received on gang members either getting unlawful access to firearms or using shooting ranges? TIM COSTLEY to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What announcements has he made regarding company director identification? Hon Dr DUNCAN WEBB to the Minister of Justice: Does he stand by all his statements and actions in respect of the Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill and the bills into which it has been divided? JAMIE ARBUCKLE to the Minister for Resources: What announcements has he made regarding critical minerals? Hon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL to the Minister of Revenue: Does he stand by his statement that Inland Revenue will "deliver on the real priorities for our tax system"; if so, does he support all their work?

Questions to Ministers Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? TAKUTA FERRIS to the Minister for Maori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti: E whakapono ana ia kei te hapai tenei Kawanatanga i ona herenga me ana mahi ki te iwi Maori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi? Does he believe this Government is upholding its obligations and duties to Maori under te Tiriti o Waitangi? NANCY LU to the Minister of Finance: What recent announcements has she made about support for families? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement she would "make good economic decisions so people can actually see better prospects in New Zealand, that's essentially our mission"; if so, why have a new record of net 55,800 Kiwis moved overseas in the year ended July 2024? GRANT McCALLUM to the Minister of Education: What recent changes has she made to increase the number of relief teachers available in school classrooms? Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What changes has she recently announced about improving certainty for those in contracting relationships? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by his statement, "Kiwis ought to feel safe going about their daily lives, and that is why this Government is focused on restoring law and order, and putting victims first"; if so, why? PAULO GARCIA to the Minister of Justice: What actions is the Government taking to ensure criminals face real consequences for crime? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko tonu ana ia i ana korero me ana mahi katoa? Does he stand by all his statements and actions? Dr CARLOS CHEUNG to the Minister of Police: What "promising results" has he seen on the Government's plan to restore law and order? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: Will his changes to the rules for Buy Now Pay Later make things worse for the one in five New Zealand users who forgo essential spending such as paying bills or buying food to pay off these purchases? HUHANA LYNDON to the Minister for Maori Development: Kei te whakaae ia ki te Tumuaki o Whakaata Maori kua ki nei ko nga panonitanga putea mo Whakaata Maori i hua mai i nga "kaupapa here Kawanatanga e huri haere ana"; mena ae, kei te tau ia ki te whakaaro ko nga hua o aua kaupapa here kia huri te hongere reo Maori ki te ipurangi anake, me te whakawhaiti i te haumitanga ki nga kaupapa Maori? Does he agree with the chief executive of Whakaata Maori, who said the funding changes for Whakaata Maori were the result of "shifting government policies"; if so, is he comfortable that Government policies are resulting in the Te Reo television channel becoming online-only and reduced investment in Maori content?

Questions to Ministers CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? RYAN HAMILTON to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? MILES ANDERSON to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has the Government made about delivering the healthcare New Zealanders need? TAKUTAI TARSH KEMP to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by the $1.4 billion in cuts to the health system, when extended wait times in Emergency Departments have led to a patient death? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Associate Minister of Justice: Does she agree with the Prime Minister's comment, "What I would say is that no decisions have been made about semi-automatic weapons. We're going to be focused on public safety, and those conversations are still to happen"; if so, why? TOM RUTHERFORD to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made about driving structured literacy in schools? Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN to the Minister for Disability Issues: Does she stand by her statement, "That is why we are prioritising disabled people, their families, and carers"; if so, how can she justify a funding freeze for residential care facilities? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister of Justice: What actions is the Government taking to reduce harm caused by gangs and to make communities safer? SIMON COURT to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What recent announcements has she made on passport wait times? Hon PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister of Immigration: Does she stand by her statement to the Education and Workforce Committee that work on the Parent Visa Boost will not start before 2025?

TIM VAN DE MOLEN to the Minister of Finance: What is the Government's revenue strategy? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? KATIE NIMON to the Minister for Infrastructure: What recent announcements has he made on actions to improve New Zealand's infrastructure system? TANYA UNKOVICH to the Minister of Customs: What updates does she have about recent drug seizures at the border? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: What will it cost to upgrade port facilities for Interislander ferries, and who will pay, given her comment that "It will, of course, cost something to upgrade port facilities"? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER to the Minister of Transport: How many public transport improvement projects that were bid for by regional and local councils were funded in the National Land Transport Programme 2024-27 and how many did not receive funding? Hon WILLIE JACKSON to the Associate Minister of Justice: Does he agree with all of the Government's statements and actions in respect of the Treaty Principles Bill; if so, why? DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Associate Minister of Justice: Does she agree with the Ministry of Justice's advice that her proposal to change the regulations on gun clubs and shooting ranges "increases safety risks to range users and members of the public"; if not, why not? DAVID MacLEOD to the Minister of Transport: How is the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport delivering for New Zealanders? TANGI UTIKERE to the Minister of Transport: Does he stand by all his statements and actions in relation to the recent announcement of the National Land Transport Programme? TAMATHA PAUL to the Minister of Corrections: What consultation, if any, did he undertake with Maori before the Government decided the Treaty provisions should be removed from the Corrections Amendment Bill, and is he concerned that this decision will increase the overrepresentation of Maori within our prisons?

Questions to Ministers Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she stand by her statement, "Our Government will not tolerate people who accept the Jobseeker Support benefit but refuse to uphold their obligation to seek a job - it is not fair on hardworking Kiwis who pay their taxes that go towards those benefit payments"; if not, why not? Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister of Health: What actions has the Government taken to improve the lives of New Zealanders, and their families, who are impacted by cancer? TAMATHA PAUL to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by his statement that he doesn't "think there is systemic bias in the police at all"; if so, how does he explain findings released by the Police that being Maori makes you 11 percent more likely to be prosecuted compared to Pakeha for the same offence? Hon WILLIE JACKSON to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How are her employment policies going to support New Zealanders in to work, given that the Reserve Bank's August Monetary Policy Statement predicts that unemployment will rise to 5.4 percent? MARK CAMERON to the Associate Minister for the Environment: What recent announcements has he made relating to significant natural areas? JAMES MEAGER to the Minister of Police: By how much have Police foot patrols increased under this Government? LAN PHAM to the Minister for the Environment: Does she stand by her statement that "It's getting that balance between the actions that we take, and environmental protection ... we consider that the balance had swung too far towards environmental protection at the cost of not being able to get things done"? Hon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL to the Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills: Does she stand by her statement that Te Pukenga is a "financial mess, drowning in debt of over $250 million"; if so, why? DANA KIRKPATRICK to the Minister of Forestry: What action has the Government taken in respect of forestry and the clean-up of the East Coast? CUSHLA TANGAERE-MANUEL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement that there is a health "workforce crisis"; if so, how does he respond to senior medical officers of Tairawhiti, who have said, "Recent national directives setting recruitment restrictions and hospital budget cuts make our situation even worse"? CAMERON BREWER to the Minister of Revenue: What announcements has he made on tax? TAKUTA FERRIS to the Minister for Maori Development: Is it acceptable that Whakaata Maori has not had an increase in baseline funding since 2008?

Questions to Ministers DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? GRANT McCALLUM to the Minister for the Public Service: What recent reports has she seen about public sector pay increases? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? SAM UFFINDELL to the Minister of Health: What progress has been made in lifting immunisation rates for New Zealanders, particularly high-needs communities? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she agree with Nicola Willis, who, prior to the 2023 election, said, "For many people, things feel so bleak that they are looking at opportunities overseas and voting with their feet, with almost 40,000 Kiwis permanently leaving the country last year"; if so, why did 80,000 Kiwis move overseas in the year up to June 2024? LAURA TRASK to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What recent announcements has she made about phase 2 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons? Dr CARLOS CHEUNG to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What recent changes has she made to support people on the jobseeker benefit into work? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by his response to being asked what is the biggest thing he's done since he took office, "Oh, I think probably, the letter of expectation that I put out there for the commissioner"; if so, why? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she believe employees are ever wrongly categorised as contractors; if so, what remedy do they have to change their employment status? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has he made on speed limits in Christchurch? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Associate Minister of Health: Does she stand by her statement to Radio New Zealand that "The document you have referred to was not generated or collated by any members of my office, was not left on my desk by any member of my office, and was only received as a hard copy on 6 December 2023"; if so, was the document received by her directly or another member of her office?

Questions to Ministers Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? TIM COSTLEY to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement, "On this side of the House, we take economic management extremely seriously"; if so, have her decisions since the Budget exemplified that? NANCY LU to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: What recent announcements has he made about the Government's one-stop-shop fast-track legislation? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS to the Minister for Energy: Does he agree with Mark Ogge, a climate and energy expert at the Australia Institute, that "only import liquefied natural gas if you like your energy very, very expensive, and if you want it to be very emissions intensive. Otherwise go for renewable energy, with storage, which is cheaper and virtually zero emissions"; if not, why not? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? MIKE BUTTERICK to the Minister for Energy: What steps is the Government taking to bolster New Zealand's energy security? Hon RACHEL BROOKING to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: Does he stand by his statement that "we've replicated ... the same law that Labour adopted" about the proposed changes to the Fast-track Approvals Bill? JENNY MARCROFT to the Minister for Resources: What reports has he seen regarding the need for more resource extraction to support New Zealand's energy security? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Associate Minister of Health: Does she stand by her response to written question No. 405 (2024), "There was no specific document written. A range of information was provided to officials, including material like Hansard reports, the Coalition Agreement and previous NZ First policy positions"; if so, how is this consistent with her having now released the document in question under the Official Information Act? LAN PHAM to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? DAN BIDOIS to the Minister of Local Government: What recent announcements has he made on getting councils back to basics?

Questions to Ministers GREG FLEMING to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen about the cost of living? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS to the Minister for Energy: Has he received advice on the cost of purchasing liquefied natural gas from overseas markets; if so, what is the estimated price range provided in this advice? Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Minister for Children: What feedback, if any, has she received about Oranga Tamariki's work to ensure taxpayer money is being directed to where it can achieve the best outcomes for children and young people? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she agree with the Prime Minister's statement, "we have delivered lower inflation"; if so, what specifically can she point to in the August Monetary Policy Statement that supports the claim that her Government has caused lower inflation? FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ to the Minister for the Public Service: Does she agree with the comments made by the Prime Minister yesterday that "central government focuses on must-haves, not nice-to-haves"; if so, were the more than 6,500, and counting, public servants whose jobs have been cut simply "nice-to-haves"? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister of Local Government: What recent announcements has he made about getting local government back to basics? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Associate Minister of Health: Does she stand by her answer to my oral question No. 8 on 23 July, confirming that the vast majority of heated tobacco products sold in 2022 were by Philip Morris, and by the decision to grant a $216 million tax break for heated tobacco products? TOM RUTHERFORD to the Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has he made on investment in road policing? RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she agree with Lifewise, who say cutting benefits for minor misdemeanors, including a missed appointment, would hurt the most vulnerable; if not, how will the traffic light system not hurt the most vulnerable? TAKUTA FERRIS to the Minister of Justice: Will he commit to reviewing the justice system to ensure it is meeting its objectives? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister of Police: Does he agree with Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB when he marked crime 2/10, saying, "For all the noise, promises and headlines, I'm pretty sure the stats show it's going the wrong way"; if not, why not? CARL BATES to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What recent announcements has he made about reforms to corporate governance? Hon WILLIE JACKSON to the Associate Minister of Housing: Does he stand by his statement relating to the drop in children living in emergency accommodation, "I'm not worried that some are now homeless"?

Questions to Ministers Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? TIM van de MOLEN to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on interest rates? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his description of Commissioner Lester Levy's view of Health New Zealand's financial situation, "it's not underfunding, it's overspending", and does he agree with that analysis? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister of Immigration: What recent announcements has she made about supporting businesses to access critical seasonal workforces? MARK CAMERON to the Associate Minister of Justice: Why is this Government rewriting the Arms Act 1983? Hon KIERAN McANULTY to the Minister of Housing: Does he agree with the Hon Tama Potaka's statement relating to the drop in children living in emergency accommodation, "I'm not worried that some are now homeless"; if so, is that why funding for community housing providers has reduced to only 750 new places a year under his Government? SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister of Agriculture: What is the Government doing to support the rural economy? TAMATHA PAUL to the Associate Minister of Housing: Why has the Government restricted eligibility for emergency housing despite the Ministry of Social Development's advice that "Making these changes now creates a risk of increased levels of homelessness"? PAULO GARCIA to the Associate Minister of Housing: What impact is the Priority One category having on supporting families out of emergency housing? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister of Education: Does she agree with President of the New Zealand Principals' Federation Leanne Otene's statement that "The draft curriculum is still being written and no child tested on it had ever been taught it. The basis for the maths achievement 'crisis' was disinformation"; if not, why not? SCOTT WILLIS to the Minister for Energy: Does he consider the electricity market is broken, in light of the current electricity crisis and significant increase in gentailer profits? JENNY MARCROFT to the Minister for Regional Development: What reports has he seen regarding regional development in New Zealand?

Questions to Ministers CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? STUART SMITH to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement, "We've acted swiftly to root-out waste, reduce bureaucracy and move resources from the back-office to the front line"; if so, is she confident New Zealanders have gained more from the tax cuts than they lost from the Budget 2024 baseline savings exercise? KATIE NIMON to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the banking sector? RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Has she read the analysis in the Welfare Expert Advisory Group's 2019 report that "There is little evidence in support of using obligations and sanctions (as in the current system) to change behaviour; rather, there is research indicating that they compound social harm and disconnectedness"; if so, what specific evidence, if any, has she seen that benefit sanctions support people into employment? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Disability Issues: Does she stand by all her statements made during the Disability Issues Estimates hearing at the Social Services and Community Committee on 19 June 2024? DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister for Children: How many Oranga Tamariki community service providers, if any, have had their funding increased, and by how much, if anything, as a result of the Budget 2024 Reduction in Contracting Service Costs? JOSEPH MOONEY to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What recent announcements has the Government made about supporting people on the jobseeker benefit into work? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Associate Minister of Justice: Does she stand by her statement, "Good legislation involves everybody, and bad legislation is usually when somebody goes off and does something by themselves ... I'm never going to be arrogant enough to think that I have the answers to everything"; if so, why? Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology: What recent announcement has the Government made about gene technology?