Episodes

  • Oral Questions for 27 August 2024

    Oral Questions for 27 August 2024
    Aug 27 2024
    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?
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    59 mins
  • Oral Questions for Thursday 22 August 2024

    Oral Questions for Thursday 22 August 2024
    Aug 22 2024
    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"?
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Oral Questions for Wednesday 21 August 2024

    Oral Questions for Wednesday 21 August 2024
    Aug 21 2024
    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?
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Oral Questions for Tuesday 20 August 2024

    Oral Questions for Tuesday 20 August 2024
    Aug 20 2024
    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?
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    58 mins
  • Oral Questions for Thursday 8 August 2024

    Oral Questions for Thursday 8 August 2024
    Aug 8 2024
    Questions to Ministers RYAN HAMILTON to the Minister of Local Government: What recent announcements has he made on Local Water Done Well? HANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE to the Minister of Health: Can he guarantee that the proposed review of the Maori and Pacific Admission Scheme, which has admitted more than 700 Maori and Pasifika students to medical school in the last 10 years, will not lead to its disestablishment? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she agree with the Prime Minister's statement, "This is a country where our economy is in real trouble. This is a country where we cannot deliver health and education services as well as we need to"; if not, why not? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What steps is the Government taking to support people on the jobseeker benefit into work? Hon WILLIE JACKSON to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Do recent unemployment figures show New Zealand is back on track; if not, why not? JAMES MEAGER to the Minister for Building and Construction: Why is the Government reviewing the earthquake-prone building legislation? DARLEEN TANA to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: Does he agree with the statement by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment that the Resource Management (Extended Duration of Coastal Permits for Marine Farms) Amendment Bill is a "Bill that is a case of a sledgehammer being used to crack a nut"; if not, why not? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Children: What evidence does she have to substantiate her statement, "For too many years, Oranga Tamariki has been the cash cow for community service providers who say they will provide services, and then don't"? LAURA TRASK to the Minister for Children: What recent announcement has she made regarding key performance indicators for Oranga Tamariki? 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 Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What announcements has the Government made regarding the economic regulation of water services? KAHURANGI CARTER to the Minister for Children: Does she stand by her statement that "Savings coming from getting money back where it hasn't been used are redirected to other front-line services"; if so, how is the budget for contracted services being cut by $120 million?
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    57 mins
  • Oral Questions for Wednesday 7 August 2024

    Oral Questions for Wednesday 7 August 2024
    Aug 7 2024
    Questions to Ministers Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? NANCY LU to the Minister of Finance: What approach is the Government taking to managing spending and reprioritisation in Budget 2025? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement, "Our Budget was very deliberate in the funding of core priorities because our priorities are the same priorities as New Zealanders"; if so, is she concerned that her priorities are disconnected from everyday New Zealanders? GRANT McCALLUM to the Minister of Education: What evidence has she seen to support her recent announcement on Make it Count, an action plan to transform maths education in New Zealand? DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon WILLIE JACKSON to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: Does he think it is appropriate that te reo Maori be used in an invitation for Matariki, a distinct holiday to celebrate the Maori New Year; if not, why not? Dr CARLOS CHEUNG to the Minister of Justice: What actions is the Government taking to reduce harm caused by gangs and make communities safer? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Is it correct that he was advised of Health New Zealand's plan to block early access to the cancer drug Keytruda on Friday 2 August, and that he did not take action to address this issue until after it was made public? TODD STEPHENSON to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What recent announcements has she made about passports? KAHURANGI CARTER to the Minister for Children: Does she stand by the Government's Budget description of the Oranga Tamariki Contracting Service Costs savings initiative that "This initiative improves the efficiency of service delivery, with no reduction in frontline services"; if so, how is Oranga Tamariki ensuring no reduction in frontline service provision? Hon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL to the Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills: Does she stand by her statement that "the previous government's Te Pukenga mega-merger has been nothing but an abject disaster"; if so, why?
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    56 mins
  • Oral Questions for 6 August 2024

    Oral Questions for 6 August 2024
    Aug 6 2024
    Questions to Ministers MARK CAMERON to the Minister for Regulation: What initiatives, if any, is the Ministry for Regulation working on to improve the quality of regulations in New Zealand? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? MILES ANDERSON to the Minister of Finance: What is the operating allowance for Budget 2025? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement, "Our Budget was very deliberate in the funding of core priorities because our priorities are the same priorities as New Zealanders"; if so, is she concerned that her choices are disconnected from everyday New Zealanders? TANYA UNKOVICH to the Associate Minister for Energy: What recent announcements has he made regarding fuel security? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made about transforming maths education? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister for Children: Does she stand by her statement that "stakeholder groups, Opposition parties, Governments, and Maori have all called for Oranga Tamariki to change. This is what change looks like"; if so, why? DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister of Police: What feedback has he seen about Police's community beat patrols? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence: Does she stand by her statement regarding the availability of services that support victims of family violence, "sometimes it's not about just throwing extra money at stuff. It's about making sure that the money is going to the right places. And we're working through where those gaps are and where the money we have currently got isn't being spent well and focusing it to where it is being spent well. So that is a process, and that takes time"; if so, when will that process be completed? CAMERON BREWER to the Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills: What recent actions have been taken to begin public consultation on the redesign of the vocational education and training system?
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Oral Questions for Thursday 1 August 2024

    Oral Questions for Thursday 1 August 2024
    Aug 1 2024
    Questions to Ministers Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she stand by her statement that "We are focused on lifting New Zealand families out of hardship and giving them more opportunities to get ahead by helping all who can work into jobs"? SAM UFFINDELL to the Minister of Finance: Why were tax thresholds increased yesterday? KAHURANGI CARTER to the Minister for Children: Does she stand by her statement regarding cuts to Oranga Tamariki that "There will be no financial impact and there'[ll] be no impact on the frontline services. This is a guarantee"? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement, "It's my view that the board [of Health New Zealand] didn't even know what questions to ask"; if so, does she agree with the Prime Minister that they lacked financial literacy? TAKUTA FERRIS to the Minister of Education: Does she consider the Waitangi Tribunal's report Kei Ahotea Te Aho Matua, regarding the urgent claim made by Te Runanga Nui o Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori, is of critical importance to the educational success and achievement of tamariki and rangatahi Maori? CARL BATES to the Minister for Infrastructure: What announcements has he made about the Quarterly Investment Report? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he agree with the Prime Minister's statement in reply to a supplementary to oral question No. 3 yesterday that "there is no hiring freeze", and what advice has he given the Prime Minister on this matter? TIM COSTLEY to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What recent announcements has the Government made about supporting young people on the jobseeker benefit into work? LAN PHAM to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: Does he agree with the Minister who responded on behalf of the Minister responsible for RMA Reform that "there is no licence to desecrate the taiao in this process" and "within the Fast-track Approvals Bill you see various protections for the taiao"? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister for Children: Does she stand by her statement about cuts to Oranga Tamariki that there will be no financial impact and no impact on front-line services and that this is a guarantee? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What announcements has he made regarding the Regional Events Promotion Fund? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by his statement, regarding leaving the Police force in a better position than he found it in terms of morale, culture, pay, job satisfaction, and safety, "that is what I'm here for, and that is what I spend most of my waking hours working hard to do"?
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    54 mins