February 18, 2016 1:00pm by David Farrar

Parliament 18 February 2016

The order paper is here.

Oral Questions 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm

  1. RON MARK to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements on the flag referenda?
  2. Hon ANNETTE KING to the Minister of Health: Will he make good on the promises he made on radio yesterday to the Canterbury District Health Board that “if they need more money for mental health this year, they need to just tell me exactly what they need, because the Government is listening”?
  3. ANDREW BAYLY to the Minister of Finance: What recent announcements has the Government made around its programme of Social Investment?
  4. PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister for Building and Housing:When the Prime Minister said first-home buyers in Auckland might have to consider an apartment in order to get on to the property ladder, did he mean that the Government supports the increased intensification now being considered by the Independent Hearings Panel?
  5. JONO NAYLOR to the Minister for Social Development: What reports has she received on the number of children living in benefit-dependent households?
  6. KEVIN HAGUE to the Minister of Health: What is the Government’s estimate of the likely extra cost faced by Pharmac for each of the TPP’s provisions relating to transparency processes, patent term extensions for pharmaceuticals, and data protection extension for biologics?
  7. RON MARK to the Minister of Immigration: Has he had cause for concern about the effects of the current Government’s immigration policy; if so, what are the concerns?
  8. PAUL FOSTER-BELL to the Minister of Tourism: What reports has he received about the growth in number of tourist guest nights?
  9. Dr DAVID CLARK to the Minister of Trade: Did his predecessor Hon Tim Groser ask MFAT officials negotiating the TPP agreement to preserve the right for a future New Zealand Government to ban the purchase of residential land by non-resident foreign speculators?
  10. SCOTT SIMPSON to the Minister for Primary Industries: What recent reports has he received on growth in seafood exports?
  11. Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: Does he have full confidence in the Tertiary Education Commission’s oversight of tertiary education funding?
  12. MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Minister for Climate Change Issues: When she said this week at the Pacific climate change conference that “Pacific voices are heard loud and clear at the negotiating table, and there are some things that we hold different views on”, what were the specific points of difference that she was referring to?

National: Four questions on social investment, benefit levels, tourism and seafood exports

Labour: Four questions on Canterbury DHB funding, house affordability, TPP and tertiary education

Greens: Two questions on TPP and climate change

NZ First: Two questions on flag referenda and immigration

Government Bills 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm

Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel Between Clients) Settlement Bill – third reading

This Bill implements a settlement between the Crown, District Health Boards, providers of home and community-based care and support services, and certain unions on behalf of home and community-based care and support employees.

  • Introduced September 2015
  • 1st reading: October 2015, passed unanimously
  • SC report: December 2015, supported with amendments without dissent
  • 2nd reading: February 2016, passed unanimously
  • Committee of the Whole: February 2016, passed unanimously

The third reading consist of 12 speeches of up to 10 minutes each, for a maximum debate of two hours.

Social Housing Reform (Transaction Mandate Bill) – third reading

This bill amends the Housing Corporation Act 1974 to provide designated Ministers with the authority to transfer Housing New Zealand Corporation properties.

  • Introduced July 2015
  • 1st reading: August 2015, passed 63 to 58 with Labour, Greens and NZ First opposed
  • SC report: December 2015, supported with amendments unanimously
  • 2nd reading: February 2016, passed 63 to 58 with Labour, Greens and NZ First opposed
  • Committee of the Whole, February 2016, passed 63 to 58 with Labour, Greens and NZ First opposed

The third reading consist of 12 speeches of up to 10 minutes each, for a maximum debate of two hours.