Parliament - Live Stream and Question Time

ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that “Nick Smith has dealt with some of the most complex problems of resource law and housing more successfully than any other politician here could have”; if so, in what ways, if any, does he think the housing situation for New Zealanders has improved under Hon Nick Smith?

BRETT HUDSON to the Minister of Finance: What steps is the Government taking to improve productivity in the public service?

MARAMA FOX to the Minister of Health: Does he agree with counsellor Andrew Hopgood, regarding P addicts, that “… a lack of detox and live-in rehabilitation centres limits options for addicts seeking help”; if so, what is he doing to address this shortage?

JONATHAN YOUNG to the Minister for Economic Development: What update can he give on ways the Government is supporting economic development in the Gisborne region?

CHRIS HIPKINS to the Associate Minister of Education: How many schools across the country are currently using libraries, halls, and other areas not intended for regular teaching as temporary classrooms?

ANDREW BAYLY to the Minister of Justice: What recent announcements has she made regarding phase two of the anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism regime?

CATHERINE DELAHUNTY to the Minister for the Environment: Will he put a moratorium on bottled water exports, in response to a 15,000 strong petition and nationwide rallies on water issues taking place today?

KELVIN DAVIS to the Minister for Māori Development: Does he have confidence that his leadership of Te Puni Kōkiri and its programmes are resulting in the best outcomes for Māori?

MAUREEN PUGH to the Minister of Education: What announcements has she made about the Government’s education-related Better Public Services targets?

Dr DAVID CLARK to the Minister of Health: How much did the Canterbury District Health Board receive from the Government for mental health and addiction services support in response to the Kaikōura earthquake, after paying off the debt of Kaikōura’s health centre?

Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Does he stand by all his statements; if so, why?

Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Minister for Disability Issues: What recent announcements has she made regarding a nationwide transformation of the disability support system?

TODD MULLER to the Minister of Finance: How is the New Zealand economy expected to perform over the medium-term?

PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister for Social Housing: Does her statement that the Prime Minister’s commitment to 65,000 Income Related Rent Subsidy places was for the number of “places the Budget appropriation provides” mean she considers the commitment met, even if there are not 65,000 tenants actually housed using income-related rent subsidies?

Dr SHANE RETI to the Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has the Government made on the Whangarei to Northport highway?

CHRIS HIPKINS to the Minister of Education: What was the percentage change in operational and teacher salaries funding for schools on a per child basis, once inflation and roll growth have been taken into account, between 2008 and 2016?

TODD BARCLAY to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made on delivering new schools for our growing communities?

CATHERINE DELAHUNTY to the Minister for the Environment: Does he stand by his statement that New Zealanders will have access to “open, honest information on the state of our rivers” with the Government’s Clean Water package?

CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Social Development: Does she agree with the Prime Minister, who said, “I must emphasise that increasing access to data will not be at the expense of security or risk to privacy” in regards to the Government’s collection of private client data from contracted social services?

MELISSA LEE to the Minister for the Environment: What advice has he received on the parallel planning issues for New Zealand from the just released UK Government Report, “Fixing our broken housing market”?

RON MARK to the Minister of Immigration: Does he stand by all his statements; if so, why?

Dr JIAN YANG to the Minister for Tertiary Education: What announcements has he made to grow New Zealand’s ties with the Asia-Pacific region through new tertiary education initiatives?

Dr DAVID CLARK to the Minister of Health: Does he think that the levels of staffing are acceptable in mental health services at Canterbury District Health Board when staff are saying they are fearful for their own safety and are feeling anxious all the time?

DENIS O'ROURKE to the Minister for Building and Construction: Does he stand by all his statements on building activity; if so, how?

METIRIA TUREI to the Minister for Women: When she said that she was “fully equipped to kinda leap in and tackle” the challenge of pay equity, why is she ruling out a law change to shrink the pay gap in the private sector?

MAUREEN PUGH to the Minister of Finance: What progress is the Government making on keeping the Crown accounts in surplus?

ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that the shortage of rental housing in Wellington is “a problem of success”?

SARAH DOWIE to the Minister of Justice: What recent announcements has she made about justice sector investment?

JACINDA ARDERN to the Minister for Women: Does she stand by her statement that closing the gender gap is “one of my top priorities”?

STUART SMITH to the Minister for Small Business: What recent announcements has she made regarding support for small businesses in regional New Zealand?

Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements regarding superannuation; if so, why?

GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with the former Minister of Finance Bill English’s statement, in regard to the New Zealand Super Fund, “when surpluses return we will resume contributions”?

BARBARA KURIGER to the Minister of Revenue: What is the Government doing to ensure all companies operating in New Zealand pay their fair share of tax?

EUGENIE SAGE to the Minister for the Environment: Does he agree with Forest and Bird president Mark Hanger, who said, “in putting the Forum’s recommendations to one side, the Government has undermined the good faith and trust that we put in the Forum to help address the freshwater crisis facing all New Zealanders”?

JONATHAN YOUNG to the Minister of Transport: What updates can he provide on the Government’s Accelerated Regional Roading Package?

CHRIS HIPKINS to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by her statement in June 2014 with regard to the Investing in Educational Success initiative, “parents will be very pleased we’re making such good progress on something that will make a real difference in our schools and classrooms”?

ALASTAIR SCOTT to the Minister of Finance: What is the Government doing to improve New Zealand’s long-term fiscal sustainability?

ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that “we have the best opportunity in decades to make positive sustainable choices for our country”; if so, do those choices include not contributing to the Superannuation Fund, increasing the acceptable level of E.coli in swimmable water, writing off young people as “pretty damn hopeless”, and treating a housing shortage as a “problem of success”?

METIRIA TUREI to the Prime Minister: E māia ana a ia ki ōna kaupapa here katoa?

Translation: Does he have confidence in all his policies?

Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement to The Nation, “Well, it’s turned out that because so many more people are working as they get through the age 60, 65, that super is more affordable than was expected, say, 15 years ago. I haven’t made the same undertaking as John, so we have the opportunity for a bit of a reset there”?

JACINDA ARDERN to the Minister for Social Development: Is she satisfied with the Government’s treatment of those who have been abused by the State?

SCOTT SIMPSON to the Minister for the Environment: What is the estimated cost of the 90 percent of rivers and lakes swimmable by 2040 policy, and what specific requirements will it place on councils and farms to achieve this target?

GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: Is the New Zealand Super Fund correct that the impact on the fund as a result of the suspension of Government contributions in July 2009 has been a reduction in the projected size of the fund of $20.5 billion?

CATHERINE DELAHUNTY to the Minister for the Environment: Does the Selwyn - Waikirikiri river at Chamberlains Ford meet the “good for swimming” standard as outlined in the Government’s Clean Water plan?

PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister for Social Housing: How many social housing places are receiving an income-related rent subsidy now; and by how much has this changed since the Prime Minister’s 2015 State of the Nation speech?

JOANNE HAYES to the Minister for Social Development: What recent reports has she received on the establishment of the new Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki?

Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister for the Environment: Does he believe that he has control of his Environment portfolio, given the Kermadec sanctuary legislation he is responsible for is becalmed, and his proposed standard for swimmable rivers has been condemned by freshwater scientists and environmentalists, as well as recreational users of the rivers and lakes, which have been deteriorating under his watch?

BRETT HUDSON to the Minister for Small Business: What reports has she received on how New Zealand’s small business growth expectations compare to other economies?

Hon ANNETTE KING to the Minister of Health: Is he satisfied that the current level of investment into public health facilities and services is meeting acceptable standards and patient needs?

CATHERINE DELAHUNTY to the Minister for the Environment: How would he describe the state of Aotearoa’s rivers and lakes this summer?

NUK KORAKO to the Minister of Civil Defence: Can the Government provide an update on the response to the Christchurch and Selwyn District fires?

PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister for Building and Construction: What was the increase in the housing shortfall in Auckland between June 2008 and June 2016, given that the population increased by 208,900, meaning at 2.7 people per household 77,370 additional houses would be needed?

RICHARD PROSSER to the Minister of Immigration: Does his department monitor New Zealand-based businesses to ascertain whether they are employing New Zealanders ahead of visa-holding foreigners; if so, how?

CHRIS BISHOP to the Minister of Finance: How is the Government using a social investment approach that aims to improve the lives of vulnerable New Zealanders and reduce costs for taxpayers?

CHRIS HIPKINS to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: Does he believe his predecessor and officials have fully briefed him on the value and effectiveness of all existing programmes in his portfolio?

KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI to the Minister of Corrections: What recent announcements has she made regarding Public Protection Orders?

DENISE ROCHE to the Minister of Immigration: Does he believe that it is fair that the Indian students seeking sanctuary in an Auckland church should be deported for visa fraud if they have not been charged with that offence?

DENIS O'ROURKE to the Minister of Transport: Is he concerned about the announcement by KiwiRail on 21 December 2016 that it intends to de-electrify the North Island’s Main Trunk railway system?

IAN McKELVIE to the Minister of Transport: What progress has the Government made on the Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway north of Wellington?

CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Social Development: Is she concerned that the Superu report released last week showed that 1 in 4 former beneficiaries return to the benefit within 24 months after they come off?

Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in all his Ministers; if so, why?

ANDREW BAYLY to the Minister of Finance: What impact is New Zealand’s growing economy having on the Government’s tax revenues?

ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Is the Government doing a good job at ensuring the health and wellbeing of every New Zealand child?

IAN McKELVIE to the Minister of Police: How will the Government’s Safer Communities package make police more accessible and easier to reach?

GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: Does he believe working New Zealanders are getting a fair share of economic growth?

JAN LOGIE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?

SARAH DOWIE to the Minister of Communications: What progress can he report on the rollout of the Ultra-Fast Broadband and Rural Broadband initiatives?

PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister for Building and Construction: Does he stand by his statement, “this building boom is 30 percent stronger than the boom back in 2004 in inflation-adjusted terms”; if so, what does he think has been a larger cause of that, the 137 percent increase in the cost of building a home in Auckland or the fall in consent numbers there by 2,185?

JAMI-LEE ROSS to the Minister for the Environment: Are the Government’s resource management reforms helping deliver timely consenting decisions on the infrastructure New Zealand needs to support a growing economy?

TRACEY MARTIN to the Minister of Finance: Why did he refuse to allow public consultation regarding access to Te Arai Beach in line with his responsibilities under the Crown Forest Assets Act 1989?

Dr DAVID CLARK to the Minister for Economic Development: Is he answerable to this House for the more than $20 million in untendered contracts at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment reported in the previous year; if so, how can he be sure those contracts represent best value for money when they weren’t tendered?

JOANNE HAYES to the Associate Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration: What announcements has she made regarding the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial?

MAUREEN PUGH to the Minister of Finance: How is the growing economy delivering jobs for New Zealanders?

ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his refusal last week to debate with me in public in Mt Albert on the housing crisis?

STUART SMITH to the Minister of Civil Defence: What has the Government been doing to ensure timely recovery for people and property following the Kaikōura earthquake?

Hon ANNETTE KING to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement that the New Zealand mental health system is “high quality”?

JAMES SHAW to the Minister for Climate Change Issues: Does she stand by the opinion piece she wrote on 11 October titled “We’re on the right track on tackling climate change”?

Dr SHANE RETI to the Minister of Health: What health support and assistance has the Government made available for those affected by last year’s Kaikōura earthquake?

PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister for Building and Construction: Does he agree with his Auckland Housing Accord that there was a shortfall of 20,000 to 30,000 houses in Auckland in 2013; if so, how much is it getting worse by each year?

MATT DOOCEY to the Minister for Primary Industries: What recent announcements has he made about Government support to help with recovery on earthquake-affected farms?

Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?

STUART NASH to the Minister of Police: Does she stand by all her statements?

Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Minister for Building and Construction: Can he confirm reports that the $19 billion of construction work consented to in 2016 is the highest ever?

JAN LOGIE to the Minister of Justice: Does she agree with the previous Prime Minister who said about family violence, “It’s easy to think this is someone else’s problem. But it is not someone else’s problem if you are a New Zealander who cares”?

Hon ANNETTE KING to the Minister of Health: Does he believe that DHBs have enough funding to meet the needs of the public in a fair and equitable way?

ALASTAIR SCOTT to the Minister of Finance: What is the outlook for the New Zealand economy over the next three years?

CLAYTON MITCHELL to the Minister of Conservation: Does she stand by all her statements?

JULIE ANNE GENTER to the Minister for Climate Change Issues: Does she stand by her statement, “we’re on the right track on tackling climate change”?

IAN McKELVIE to the Minister of Police: What announcements has the Government made about increased police for rural and regional New Zealand?

GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with his predecessor’s reported statement that “the Government was keen to get the cost of housing down, so that whether people owned or rented a house they did not use such a large proportion of their income paying for it”?

SIMON O'CONNOR to the Minister of Health: Can he confirm the number of patients benefiting from First Specialist Assessments has risen from 404,511 a year in 2008, to 552,423 a year in 2016, and that this is an increase of 147,912 more patients now being seen?

DAVID SEYMOUR to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement made yesterday in the Finance and Expenditure Committee that “New Zealand is in the middle of its largest ever building boom”; if so, how?

PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister for Building and Construction: What responsibility does he take for the housing affordability crisis?

BARBARA KURIGER to the Minister of Energy and Resources: What is she doing to ensure drivers aren’t paying too much at the pump?

JAN LOGIE to the Minister of Health: When will the Government make an offer to settle Kristine Bartlett and other care and support workers’ equal pay case?

CHRIS HIPKINS to the Minister of Education: Is she concerned at the amount of money parents often have to pay for education at State and State-integrated schools; if not, why not?

JAMES SHAW to the Minister for Climate Change Issues: Does she stand by her statement that “we have an ambitious programme of work that is going on around climate change issues”?

ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Why was there no mention of the housing crisis in his State of the Nation speech last week?

CHRIS BISHOP to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he received on the performance of the New Zealand economy?

Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements; if so, how?

GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with the Economist Shamubeel Eaqub that “Government should be in the business of making long-term investments”?

KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI to the Minister of Police: What announcements has the Government made about investing in police to make our communities safer?

DENISE ROCHE to the Minister of Immigration: What steps, if any, did Immigration New Zealand take to ensure validity of the visas of the nine students currently seeking sanctuary in a church, including any interviews with these students to determine the accuracy of their application before they came to New Zealand?

CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Social Development: Is she concerned that child poverty rates of up to “20 percent have become entrenched into New Zealand’s economic and social structure” according to today’s Salvation Army report?

MATT DOOCEY to the Minister for Communications: What recent announcements has he made on the Ultra-fast Broadband programme?

Hon DAVID PARKER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements in respect of President Trump?

Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister for Primary Industries: Is he able to explain all his actions as Minister for Primary Industries; if so, how?

JOANNE HAYES to the Minister of Education: What recent reports has she received on NCEA achievement for 2016?

ALASTAIR SCOTT to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on the diversification of the New Zealand economy?

Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Immigration: Does he stand by all his statements; if so, how?

ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Which of these facts, if any, is he most proud of as he looks forward to Christmas: understaffed Police, as confirmed by his Police Minister; the lowest homeownership since 1951; pupils getting the worst PISA test scores ever; or the most debt ever amassed by a New Zealand Government?

NUK KORAKO to the Minister of Civil Defence: How has the Government responded to the Kaikōura Earthquakes of 14 November 2016?

METIRIA TUREI to the Prime Minister: Ka tū ia i runga i te mana o āna kaupapa here katoa?

Translation: Does he stand by all his Government’s policies?

Hon ANNETTE KING to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement, “if health starts to slide, governments are in trouble”, and is this the reason he called for health to be “properly funded” when seeking leadership of the National Party?

SARAH DOWIE to the Minister of Health: Can he confirm that the Government is committing $3.76 million to assist the people of Kaikōura and Marlborough to access the health services that they need following the recent earthquake?

FLETCHER TABUTEAU to the Minister for Economic Development: Does he stand by all his statements?

GRANT ROBERTSON to the Acting Minister of Finance: How much will real wages rise in percentage terms over the 2017 and 2018 years, according to the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update?

JAMES SHAW to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that “I want to be a Prime Minister that New Zealanders feel they can approach. Not just some of them, but all.”?

MELISSA LEE to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has the Government made about investment in school property?

IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does he accept that exploitation of migrant workers is pervasive in New Zealand; if not, why not?