ORAL QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS State and Social Housing—Emergency Housing

1. METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister for Social Housing: Can she guarantee that all 3,422 people on the Priority A Housing Register who urgently need a place to live will be housed within a month; if not, why not?

Hon ALFRED NGARO (Associate Minister for Social Housing) on behalf of the Minister for Social Housing: [Samoan text to be inserted by the Hansard Office.] Most of the people who are priority A on the social housing register are already housed. Their place on the register indicates that they are in need of a social house but not that they are not currently in some form of housing. For those without current housing, the Government has a range of options, including emergency housing places in a motel or boarding house, transitional homes for families to stay in, or financial support for private rentals. Anybody on the social housing register who is in need of housing should contact the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), and help will be available for them.

Metiria Turei: How many of those 3,422 people are now living in their own homes?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: Our goal is to get people who need it into a social house as soon as possible, which is why we have made reducing the time to house priority A clients by 20 percent a Better Public Services (BPS) target. But our first priority is safe, secure housing while they are on the register, and we have a range of options available to us to use.

Mr SPEAKER: I will allow the member to repeat that question for the benefit of the Minister.

Metiria Turei: Sorry, what was that? Point of order, to repeat the question? [Interruption] How many of those 3,422 people are now living in their own homes? [Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question has been asked. It will now be answered.

Hon ALFRED NGARO: We know that there are a number of measures. There are, currently, approximately 900 on the social housing register that cite homelessness as a reason for requiring housing. Of the 4,197 people on the last census who were without habitable accommodation, 1,430 were living in rough and improvised dwellings, what most New Zealanders would understand as homeless. Also, too, the Government has been supporting families through the increasing of social housing by 66,000 social houses, and it is planning to increase that by 6,400 by 2020 to 72,000. Special needs grants were paid out—9,200 grants last quarter—to 2,616 families and individuals, totalling $8.8 million.

Metiria Turei: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek your clarification. In answer to my primary question, the Minister said that most of those people had already been housed. My supplementary question was: how many of those people have been housed? The Minister has not answered that second question. In two opportunities, he has talked about other numbers and other categories of people, but not the 3,422 on the priority A housing list.

Hon Simon Bridges: I find the difficulty of the member's question—it was very imprecise. She talked about "their own home". It is difficult to know what that means, and so the Minister, in answering it, gave some numbers that addressed that.

Mr SPEAKER: I listened to the question twice, on two occasions. To me, the question was quite clear—my understanding of the question: how many of those have now moved into a home of their own? We have had two attempts at answering the question, and I do not think it has been answered satisfactorily. But beyond two attempts, I think the best way forward is that I will allow the member, as she continues her supplementary questions, two additional supplementary questions.

Metiria Turei: If the Minister has a plan to house everyone on the priority A housing register, by what date will all of those people be housed?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: Our goal is to get people into social houses as soon as possible, which is why we have been reducing the time to house priority clients by 20 percent, a BPS target. But our first priority is to have a safe and secure house while they are on the register, and we have a range of options available to them.

Metiria Turei: Does this mean that the Government has accepted that a number of families will remain sleeping in their cars over this winter; if so, how many?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: This Government has been working hard to ensure that all families who are in need are provided for. It is the first Government that has provided emergency and transitional funding. Last year it committed $354 million for emergency housing—the first time permanent funding has been committed—which will provide 8,600 emergency housing places per year. [Interruption]

Metiria Turei: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Yet again, the Minister has not addressed my question.

Mr SPEAKER: No. On this occasion, I do not accept what the member is saying. The member actually asked two supplementary questions, and should have asked only one. The second part was not addressed, but did not need to be because the first part of that supplementary question was addressed, in my opinion.

Metiria Turei: What do the Minister's officials advise will be the number of people who are homeless over the 2017 winter?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: Of the number of long-term vacancies, including those who are currently with housing at the moment, there are 890 on the social housing register who have cited homelessness as a reason for requiring housing. Of the 4,197 people in the last census who were without habitable accommodation, 1,413 were living rough or in an improvised dwelling—what most New Zealanders would understand as homelessness.

Metiria Turei: How many families sleeping in cars and in garages are considered an acceptable number over this winter by this Government?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: This Government takes responsibility for any of those who are regarded as homeless, and our efforts have been very clear. Again, it is the first Government that has put in $354 million into ensuring that any person who is in a homeless situation can be cared for.

Metiria Turei: By when will all of those people he has described as homeless be housed?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: This Government has been working with all of those who are in need and has been putting an effort into making sure there are around 8,600 emergency housing places per year. Under any terms that is an effort that no other Government has made. We know that emergency and transitional places are currently on track for approximately 900 places available, and are on track to have 1,598 by the end of this month. As we speak, Minister Adams is now opening a 70-unit, purpose-built development in Auckland to provide emergency and transitional housing in South Auckland.

Metiria Turei: Can the Minister confirm the latest Housing New Zealand figures, which show 3,422 priority A people waiting for a home and also 1,805 empty State houses, including 159 that are empty pending sale?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: The number of long-term vacancies, excluding those that have been meth-contaminated, represents just 1.2 percent of the Housing New Zealand stock.

Metiria Turei: Can the Minister confirm that Budget 2017 forecasts spending over $15 million on emergency housing each year for the next 4 years; in other words, the Government expects the need for emergency housing to remain at record high levels because this Government does not intend to solve the housing crisis?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: This Government does intend to address the issue around homelessness and emergency housing, hence the reason why the $354 million is invested—the first of any Government—to ensure that 8,600 emergency housing places are provided for every year. Crime—Dairy Robberies

2. DARROCH BALL (NZ First) to the Minister of Police: What does she believe is the cause of the recent increase of violent robberies of dairies?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Children) on behalf of the Minister of Police: Young thugs who think it is OK to bash and rob hard-working New Zealanders.

Darroch Ball: Should dairy owners have to worry about their safety and security selling legal products; or does she agree with Nicky Wagner that they should not sell cigarettes if they do not want to get robbed?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: First of all, that is not what the Hon Nicky Wagner said, and, no, I do not believe that dairy owners should be at risk of being beaten and robbed when they are selling legal products.

Darroch Ball: What does she say to Sunny Kaushal from Crime Prevention Group, when he says of her announcement of $1.8 million to protect high-risk businesses: "It's too little too late, and their focus should be on the criminals and not on the shop owner."

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I am sure that that gentleman would be well aware of the fact that the announcement today is very welcomed by the dairy owners and the wider community, but also that the police have been putting in a tremendous amount of work with extra foot patrols, with visits to dairies, and with community meetings to ensure that we are addressing both parts of this issue.

Dr Parmjeet Parmar: What else is the Government doing to address aggravated robberies of dairies?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: This afternoon the Government announced a $1.8 million fund to help improve security in small, individually owned businesses, such as dairies and superettes. This is a practical measure that will make a real difference to some of the most at-risk businesses. In addition, earlier this year the Prime Minister announced a significant boost to police numbers, with 880 new police being recruited to fight crime across the board. Of those police officers, 236 will be going into Auckland, which has experienced the bulk of the aggravated robberies.

Darroch Ball: Does she not see that the youth justice system is too lenient on young offenders, given almost half of all those robberies are committed by 15- to 19- year-olds, who continue to blatantly reoffend?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Well, as usual, the member mixes up the facts. [Interruption] Yes, he does, all of the time. Aggravated robbery is a serious offence that carries a sentence of up to 14 years in prison, so it is not a slap on the wrist, as that member has described it.

Darroch Ball: I seek leave to table a document that was compiled by the Parliamentary Library, which gives police statistics that show that almost half of all of those robberies are committed by 15- to 19-year-olds and that there is a decrease in convictions in court for that same age group.

Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that particular information, which will have been sourced from the Parliamentary Library. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There is objection. Further supplementary question? Supplementary question—[Interruption] Order! [Interruption] Order! Mr Mark, please control yourself.

Darroch Ball: Now, that is typical. Does she agree that but for the increase in tobacco taxes and the cotton-wool youth justice system, she would not have to announce a knee-jerk, reactive, million-dollar spend on dairy security?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Again, that member is trivialising what is a very serious situation and a very complex situation. It is not as simple as cigarettes. If the member had done any research, he would have found that, in fact, these are robberies that are spur of the moment—the violence is spur of the moment. Cigarettes, cash, and other things are taken, so to blame one particular item itself shows that member's lack of understanding of exactly what is happening in these dairies. Mental Health Services—Auditor-General's Report

3. JACINDA ARDERN (Deputy Leader—Labour) to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in the Minister of Health in light of the Office of the Auditor-General report on mental health; if so, why?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Finance) on behalf of the Prime Minister: Yes, because he is a hard-working Minister who is dedicated to improving the quality of our health system—for example, investing an extra $224 million over 4 years in mental health services, including $124 million in new innovative approaches to mental health services. This is part of the extra $3.9 billion being injected over 4 years into Vote Health, which will take the total health investment to a record $16.77 billion starting at the end of this month.

Jacinda Ardern: Is it acceptable that, after 9 years in office, acute mental health patients are being discharged with no handover, no plan, no follow-up, and no suitable place to sleep?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I have had a chance to read the Auditor-General's report, and it does point out that there are some patients who are discharged in unsatisfactory circumstances. If the member has read the report, she will see there were a number of recommendations made about improving that and that the Ministry of Health has taken those recommendations up. In fact, in the period after this field work was done on this particular report, it has taken a number of steps, which are referenced in the back of the report in a letter from the Director-General of Health to the Auditor-General.

Jacinda Ardern: Does he think it is acceptable, after 9 years in office, that acute mental health patients are being discharged to caravan parks?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: There is no doubt, from this report, that there is work to be done, and there often is in a range of social services in regard to any Government. But in relation to this there are three things that are going on now that the member should be aware of. One is the additional funding that I talked about in answer to the primary question. The second issue is the work that is being done by the sector, the district health boards (DHB), which have got together to do the planning that the Auditor-General has recommended. Thirdly is the mental health strategy, which will shortly be coming out for consultation, which looks at new cross-Government services for the issues in mental health.

Jacinda Ardern: Can the Prime Minister name one—just one—new mental health initiative from the $100 million of funding that was the centrepiece of the social investment package in the Budget?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Actually, I can announce a number of them, and I would appreciate it if I had a little bit extra time, given the member has raised the question. Firstly, for example, there is $4.1 million for the Ministry of Social Development to trial integrated employment and mental health services. There is $11.6 million to help the Department of Corrections better manage and support prisoners at risk of self-harm. There is $8 million in Vote Māori Development to extend the Rangatahi Suicide Prevention Fund. There is $100 million for DHBs to support local mental health and addiction services as part of their new budget spend, and an additional $100 million—

Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The Minister must resume his seat. I have a point of order.

Dr David Clark: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I do so to assist the Minister. Jacinda Arden asked about the contingency fund. Those initiatives, which are smaller initiatives, were announced alongside and were already known about. We are asking about the centrepiece of the social investment package. That was a very specific question.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! No, I listened to the question. I will go back and look at it again, but it was about initiatives that are there to help with mental health. The Minister was taking the opportunity to announce more than one initiative, so I think the answer is certainly sufficient on this occasion.

Jacinda Ardern: I will give you a second go. Supplementary—what—

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I appreciate you giving me a second go, but I do not need one.

Jacinda Ardern: What did the Minister of Health tell him the contingency fund of $100 million over 4 years in mental health would be used on when in the select committee yesterday the Director-General of Health could not answer that question?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well, I have listed for the member a number of new initiatives. I appreciate that it does not fit her narrative and Dr Clark's narrative to be talking about the extension of the Rangatahi Suicide Prevention Fund or helping the Department of Corrections better manage and support prisoners. I appreciate that they want to play political games; we are interested in actually extending and developing mental health services.

Jacinda Ardern: Is the Prime Minister telling the House that he does not know what the centrepiece of his Budget, $100 million in mental health, was to be used for, thus telling us that it was simply a way to bat back on mental health, because there is a crisis and it is a political problem?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: With respect, I take offence at the suggestion that this Government is not taking mental health services seriously. The member does not want to hear about the new initiatives, so she is trying to talk about the contingency fund, which is currently being allocated. What I am saying to the member is that there are a range of services that are being invested in, plus the contingency fund. She can play political games if she likes, but actually I think this is more serious, and $224 million into mental health services is a serious response to a serious issue.

Jacinda Ardern: What projects are in the $100 million contingency fund for mental health?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: It is a contingency fund. The clue is in the name. They are currently being allocated. The member may want to play political games with mental health services, but, actually, I am interested in the work that is being done to improve them, including, for example, the extension, which the Māori Party has encouraged us to endorse, of the Rangatahi Suicide Prevention Fund, which I think is a serious initiative; the programme in the Department of Corrections, to better manage and support prisoners at risk of self-harm through mental health issues; and the work that the Ministry of Social Development is doing to trial integrated employment and mental health services. Labour may want to play—

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The answer is now going on for far too long. Economy—Reports

4. BRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on the prospects of the New Zealand economy?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Finance): New Zealand's economy has now grown in 23 of the last 24 quarters, and the prospects for future growth are positive. The ANZ Business Outlook yesterday shows a net 38 percent of companies expect their businesses to improve over the next year. That is 10 points higher than the historical average. The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research's quarterly predictions this week state: "Recent developments continue to point to a bright domestic outlook and the construction pipeline remains solid." It also expects unemployment to fall to 4.3 percent. This morning's terms of trade data show another increase of 5.1 percent—the second-highest level that our terms of trade have been since 1957.

Brett Hudson: What is underpinning these high levels of confidence in New Zealand's economy?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The Government's programme of consistent economic reform is helping companies get ahead, whether it is in simplifying their interactions with the Government, supporting them into new export markets, or providing the infrastructure they need to keep growing. The Government's strong economic plan is giving businesses the confidence to invest in their companies, to hire new people, and to compete internationally. In addition, people can see they can reap the rewards of their hard work, whether that is letting them keep more of what they earn, or the Government investing in more social services in their communities.

Brett Hudson: How is the strength and stability of New Zealand's economy perceived internationally?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Moody's commented on last week's Budget, saying: "The Government's ability to fund spending on new measures, such as the family and incomes tax package, and maintaining fiscal surpluses is the result of significant fiscal policy flexibility gained from consistent fiscal prudence." Fitch Ratings also commented, saying: "If the Budget continues to improve, there would be upward pressures on the ratings of New Zealand." The Australian Financial Review has concluded by observing that New Zealand has "a strong economy that remains the envy of developed country peers."

Brett Hudson: How is the Government using this current period of economic growth to deliver for New Zealanders?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Following the hard work of New Zealanders, after both the global financial crisis and the Christchurch earthquakes, the Government has returned the books to surplus, and our economic plan is delivering rising wages, rising employment, and falling unemployment. This strong economic and fiscal position gives us the opportunity to invest $7 billion more in public services for a growing country, significantly increase our infrastructure spend, pay down debt as a percentage of GDP, and deliver a family incomes package to help families raise their kids or save for a house. Finance, Minister—Statements

5. GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement in response to statements his Budget was not visionary, "Well, no, I don't even know why people would ever, sort of like what's innovative, what's visionary"?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Finance): Unfortunately for the member, he is once again wrong. He has misinterpreted the quote. The questioning from Jessica Mutch on the weekend's Q+A programme related to comments from the Auckland mayor, Phil Goff, about transport in that city. For the member's edification, the Government is currently building in Auckland the City Rail Link, the completion of the western ring route, the Waterview Connection, and the northern corridor and southern corridor expansions. It is about to start work on the East-West Link, and is working on the Kirkbride Road entrance to Auckland Airport, as well as numerous other projects, which, for all I know, the member may have opposed. You can call it visionary or call it what you like, but it is a big programme of infrastructure for all.

Grant Robertson: Why would the Mayor of Auckland say that the Budget "ignored Auckland's problems"—[Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member has every right to ask his question.

Grant Robertson: I will start again, since they like it so much.

Mr SPEAKER: Not only will the member start again but there will be substantially less interjection from my right-hand side.

Grant Robertson: Why would the Mayor of Auckland say that the Budget "ignored Auckland's problems", and the chief executive of the Property Institute of New Zealand say that the Budget risked the Government being seen as not understanding the extent of the housing problems in Auckland or even caring about them?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: In answer to the first part of the member's question, I think the mayor has his mayoral hat on but his Labour Party membership in his back pocket.

Grant Robertson: Why would the Xero country manager, Craig Hudson, say that the Budget let down small businesses and the tech sector?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The member has obviously run out of ideas, because it is the second time he has quoted the Xero guy in a week. But the good news for the member is actually, if he just looks a little bit further, he will find some people who are very supportive of the Budget. For example, Iain Hudson, who is the social policy director of the Salvation Army, said Budget 2017 delivers a substantial support to low-income working families, and "the Family Tax credit and increases in the accommodation supplement will make things easier for vulnerable working families". He could look a little further and go to Marlborough, where Marlborough Family Budgeting Service coordinator Denise Best said "These increases are great and they will make a big difference,", or he could go to the Waikato Chamber of Commerce—get out of Wellington a bit further—and go and see the CEO, William Durning, who says: "The budget has been very focused on investing in this growing economy and there are a number of initiatives on strengthening the existing spending … a … strong focus that has been taken on infrastructure,". I have a number more—

Mr SPEAKER: No, no. I have heard enough.

Grant Robertson: Why would a respected business person such as Kerry McDonald describe his Budget as having "no economic merit" and being pure political flannel?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I have got a question, which is why he is still on Tuesday's question—

Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The first question I asked in this series the Minister did not address, but we moved past that. He does not get to ask the questions; he gets to answer them.

Mr SPEAKER: The difficulty I have—I ask the member to please have a look at Speaker's ruling 195/6: "The scope of question time has expanded in recent years. Members can now ask opinions and include hypothetical material. Questions no longer have to seek just factual material. It is therefore inevitable that there will be greater dissatisfaction with the replies to questions of much greater scope." Does the Minister wish to complete his answer?

Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr SPEAKER: A further point of order?

Hon David Parker: Yes, Mr Speaker. That says that the answer can be broad; it does not say that the answer can be a question. So Mr Robertson's point was correct.

Mr SPEAKER: No, at this stage—certainly the way Mr Joyce started his question was not terribly satisfactory, but we are going to give Mr Joyce the chance to now complete his answer.

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well, as I started to say, obviously—

Grant Robertson: Why would he do that?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well, Kerry McDonald is a friend of old Winston's, which is probably one reason why—

Mr SPEAKER: Order! We will address members the correct way.

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The point I was making—

Denis O'Rourke: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. [Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! We have another point of order.

Denis O'Rourke: I believe that the Minister should be asked to withdraw and apologise for the way in which he addressed the Rt Hon Winston Peters.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am not going to ask for the member to withdraw and apologise, but Mr O'Rourke may not have heard that I immediately interjected to the Minister. He is required to address all members of Parliament the correct way, and if we go to the stage of addressing people simply by Christian names, that will lead to disorder. So I have dealt with the matter; I am not going to take it further. Now can we have the answer to the question asked by Mr Grant Robertson.

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Certainly, Mr Speaker. The point I was making is that the members between them have quoted the two people who have not been supportive of the Budget, and that is fine, because people are entitled to their opinion. But, actually, there are lots of others who have been supportive, and, for example, I speak of Kim Campbell, the CEO of the Employers and Manufacturers Association, who said: "The books are certainly in good order and this allows the government to deliver a budget aimed at building prosperity from both a social and a business perspective,". So there are different views, of course. I just think it would be more entertaining for the House if the member came up with some different ones on different days.

Grant Robertson: Has he considered that all the people who actually want to see some kind of vision from a Budget that lifts living standards, reduces inequality, and increases productivity might actually have a point, or are they all just wrong and he is the only one who is right?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: No, I think the member is the only one who is wrong. If he would like some examples, I have some more quotes for him. There is a gentleman called Peter Vial, who is the New Zealand head of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, who said that the "Finance [Minister's] … first Budget achieves a balance between continued careful fiscal management and sharing the benefits of sustained economic growth across the community. … It certainly provides most working New Zealanders with a tax cut. It also signals continued commitment to social investment, and that is laudable …". I also quote for the member Kirk Hope, Business New Zealand's CEO, who says: "Business welcomes the spending on transport and tourism infrastructure, help for exporters and co-funding for greater research and development through Callaghan Innovation. This is judicious investment in high-growth areas of the economy." So there are plenty of people who are supportive, and I understand that the member has worked hard and found the two or three people who have been against it. Budget 2017—Irrigation Investment

6. BARBARA KURIGER (National—Taranaki - King Country) to the Minister for Primary Industries: What recent Budget announcements has the Government made regarding investment in irrigation?

Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister for Primary Industries): Budget 2017 is a great Budget for the primary sector. The Government has announced $26.7 million over the next 3 years, plus a capital boost of $63 million towards irrigation investments. While a reliable water supply for growers and farmers has made a major boost for economic growth, it also provides real economic benefits. Irrigation and water storage schemes help maintain river flows, take pressure off groundwater aquifers, and also provide social benefits, such as providing water into town supplies.

Barbara Kuriger: What schemes and communities will this funding help support?

Hon NATHAN GUY: I am sure there will be numerous support for communities up and down the country. In particular, the Waimea Community Dam near Nelson, the Flaxbourne community water project in Marlborough, Hunter Downs water, and the Hurunui Water Project are all potential candidates for investment. These schemes would provide a wide variety of land uses, including horticulture, sheep, beef, and arable. New irrigation schemes must meet stringent environmental tests. Any new developments or conversions must farm within very strict environmental limits set by regional and local councils. State and Social Housing—Emergency Housing

7. PHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū) to the Associate Minister for Social Housing: How many extra emergency housing places available to take referrals have been delivered over and above the 737 he reported for March 2017, if any?

Hon ALFRED NGARO (Associate Minister for Social Housing): I am pleased to be able to report that as of today's date, the Government has secured around 900 transitional housing places across the country, an increase of 251 places over the figure reported at the end of March 2017.

Phil Twyford: How can he claim "It is great to see how the Government's…funding is making a difference in the community" when the number of people in the Government's at-risk category with severe and persistent housing needs has more than doubled in the last 2 years?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: There has been a reduction in available places over that period primarily, and that reflects that Te Puea Marae decided not to continue providing emergency housing over its service. The Government, however, has since made up some of that shortfall. Since 31 March it has secured an additional 251 new transitional housing places.

Phil Twyford: What does he say to Rev. Emily Worman who helped to organise last year's Park Up For Homes in Māngere, where hundreds of people slept in their cars overnight to highlight the housing crisis, who now says: "In Māngere East there are more beggars outside the shop…a lot of them are sleeping rough. There's just constant pressure on food banks, there are all these cars parked around, just overcrowded and a lot of it is really hidden, there's a lot of shame attached to it."?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: I would say that the ministry is making good progress securing around 1,600 places by the end of June, with a balance of 2,150 places to be delivered by the end of 2017.

Phil Twyford: Why did he tell a National Party conference that the controversy over homelessness by manufactured by journalists?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: I have apologised for those comments. They were misplaced and I have regretted those comments that I made at that time.

Phil Twyford: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I asked why he made those comments.

Mr SPEAKER: No, within the answer there were two words that I think means that he has addressed that question.

Phil Twyford: Why did he tell the National Party conference "I think that's a bridge too far." after the Prime Minister had said to him: "I need you to get close to Salvation Army policy analyst Alan Johnson. I need you to love him."?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: My comments were about the work that we have been doing as a Government to work closely with community housing providers up and down the country. I have been doing that with them. It is a reflection of the work that we have been doing. I regret those comments that I made. They were misplaced; they were poorly made. Social Housing, Minister—Statements

8. DENIS O'ROURKE (NZ First) to the Minister for Social Housing: Does she stand by all her statements?

Hon ALFRED NGARO (Associate Minister for Social Housing) on behalf of the Minister for Social Housing: Yes, in the context that they were made.

Denis O'Rourke: Does the Minister confirm that of the 34,000 new homes in Auckland she has mentioned, 8,300 are replacements for existing State houses and, therefore, the Government has really committed to only 25,700 houses over 10 years, or only about 2,500 per year?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: What I can confirm is this: in the Crown building project we will see 8,300 old, run-down social houses replaced by 13,500 new, warm, dry houses to support some of our most vulnerable New Zealanders. I can also confirm to the member that we are increasing social houses. There are 66,000 social houses. We are planning to increase that by 6,400 houses by 2020, to 72,000 houses.

Denis O'Rourke: Is the Minister telling the people of Auckland that 2,500 more homes per year is the best her Government can do for direct investment in house-building in the face of the massive and worsening housing crisis in that city?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: What I can say to the member is what this Government is doing is it is supporting families. We are spending $2.3 billion on housing support this year, supporting 310,000 families, which will increase the accommodation supplement boost announced as part of the Budget. We are increasing social housing, special-needs grants. We have paid out 9,218 grants last quarter to 2,616 families and individuals, totalling $8.8 million. We have also, too, last year, committed $354 million to emergency and transitional funding, which means 8,600 emergency housing places per year. I can say that this Government is doing its role in taking seriously the responsibility to housing.

Denis O'Rourke: Would Auckland not be much better off if the Government committed to a much bigger investment in its house-building programme, thus greatly increasing desperately needed housing stock, than spending hundreds of millions of dollars more per year on the bottomless pit of accommodation supplements, which will not add one more family home?

Hon ALFRED NGARO: I can say to the member that last year there was an inquiry that had three different political parties that came together. Out of the 20 recommendations, one of those was a review of the accommodation supplement, which has not happened for some time. This Government has reviewed the accommodation supplement—the first time that it has done that—to increase that amount to those who are in need. Budget 2017—Arts, Culture, and Heritage

9. MAUREEN PUGH (National) to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: What support does Budget 2017 provide for New Zealand's arts, culture and heritage?

Hon MAGGIE BARRY (Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage): We allocated a total of $21.2 million of new funding, including an $11.4 million investment into Radio New Zealand, $4.8 million for the ongoing development of Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, $5 million in additional funding for the 2019 First Encounters 250, and—along with my colleague the Hon Simon Bridges—$305 million was allocated to support the New Zealand film industry, both globally and domestically. This is the fund that has supported 50 international productions and 23 New Zealand productions in the past 3 years.

Maureen Pugh: What will an $11.4 million funding boost over the next 4 years mean for Radio New Zealand?

Hon MAGGIE BARRY: Building on the work of my predecessor, the Hon Amy Adams, the 8 percent increase in Radio New Zealand's base funding will assist it to buy new, modern technology and improved capability and to expand regional coverage, supporting the great advances it has made towards becoming a multimedia source of quality news and a trusted public service broadcaster in times of emergencies such as the Kaikōura earthquake.

Jacinda Ardern: Can she confirm that despite telling the Save the St. James group in December 2015 that she was looking into avenues to support its restoration, 18 months later she has not only failed to follow through—she, instead, denied its application for support—but still had the audacity to have a photo op with a building that is facing ruin on her watch?

Hon MAGGIE BARRY: Oh, when we talk about audacity, that member takes the biscuit, having been heard of not at all over a long period of time. I acknowledge the heritage significance of the St James Theatre as a category 1 building, and, along with the local member of Parliament for Auckland Central, the Hon Nikki Kaye, I am engaged actively with my officials and with those associated with the St James in a real sense for the provision of services to that wonderful theatre. That member has done absolutely nothing at all for the St James.

Maureen Pugh: How will an additional investment enable the ongoing development of Pukeahu National War Memorial Park?

Hon MAGGIE BARRY: Since its opening in April 2015, the park has been embraced by New Zealanders and has established itself as a place for remembrance and commemoration, not only here but internationally, attracting more than 122,000 visitors and 20,000 schoolchildren. The new funding will mean the park can continue to provide its highly successful education programme at the Queen Elizabeth II Pukeahu Education Centre. It will also assist with the installation and upkeep of the memorials. We will also be unveiling British, Belgian, French, and American memorials. They are in the pipeline, and will be installed by next Anzac Day. I absolutely thank and congratulate my predecessor, the Hon Chris Finlayson, on the heavy lifting he did on the park and on the Arras Tunnel. It has been a triumph. Benefits—Sanctions and Impact

10. JAN LOGIE (Green) to the Minister for Social Development: Will she apologise to a young woman who had a child conceived through rape, whose benefit was reduced for years because she didn't want to name the father?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Social Development): Yes, absolutely. As Work and Income has said itself, it got it very wrong in this case. Although there is a legal obligation to apply for child support and name the other parent, the law explicitly lays out circumstances where a person does not have to do this, and this includes if a child is conceived as a result of rape. It is clear that, in this situation, Work and Income did not apply the law correctly, and I appreciate that this was extremely distressing and upsetting for the young woman. I sincerely apologise for that.

Jan Logie: Thank you for that, Minister. My supplementary is: does she stand by section 70A of the Social Security Act, which takes up to $28 per week per child from around 15,000 poor women and their children because they, like the woman I mentioned, have not named the father?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: This particular provision has been around for decades, and the intent behind the policy is to encourage the other parent to take responsibility and contribute to the cost of raising their own child. I note it was introduced in 1990, and in 2005 the then Labour Government increased the deduction by $6 per week. This Government has no intention to change section 70A, but I have asked the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to do some research to see the effectiveness of that policy.

Jan Logie: Does the Minister consider it appropriate to deprive already poor women and their children of essential income, when the reasons why parents do not name the other biological parent are often intensely personal and private and, frankly, none of the State's business?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: As I said in my previous answer, the intent of the policy is to make sure that the other parent takes some responsibility for their child. That is what I have asked MSD to do some research on, to see whether the intent of the policy is actually reaping the rewards that we want to be sure that it is.

Jan Logie: Understanding all of that, in principal, does the Minister think it is right that women have to recount often traumatic and quite personal details to lawyers and untrained staff members, often in open-plan offices, in order to receive the financial support that they need; if not, on that principle, will the Minister commit to getting rid of this outdated law?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Under section 70A, if it is a woman, she simply has to name the father of the child. That is all they have to do. Budget 2017—Financial Capability of Young New Zealanders

11. ALASTAIR SCOTT (National—Wairarapa) to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: How does Budget 2017 invest in the financial capabilities of young New Zealanders?

Hon JACQUI DEAN (Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs): As part of Budget 2017, I announced an extra $10.2 million in operational funding over the next 4 years for the Commission for Financial Capability to scale up its Sorted schools programme and its community-based programmes. Once fully operational, over 90,000 Kiwi kids a year will receive financial education in primary and secondary schools throughout New Zealand. The community-based financial capabilities programmes will focus on vulnerable communities that demonstrate lower levels of financial capabilities or that have limited access to independent financial information.

Alastair Scott: Why is building the financial capabilities of young people important?

Hon JACQUI DEAN: Increasing the financial capabilities of our young people is important, because it teaches them how to be better with money before they enter the workforce. We want to empower young New Zealanders to be able to make smart financial decisions and engage competently with financial products such as KiwiSaver. We want young people to understand the value of savings, managing money, and the hidden costs of debt and credit. People with good levels of financial capability are more likely to make good decisions with money. Mental Health and Addiction Services—Access and Funding

12. Dr DAVID CLARK (Labour—Dunedin North) to the Minister of Health: How many more New Zealanders are accessing district health board mental health and addiction services nationally now than in 2007/08, expressed as a percentage increase; and what is the corresponding percentage growth in funding for mental health and addiction services over the same time period?

Hon NICKY WAGNER (Associate Minister of Health) on behalf of the Minister of Health: District health boards (DHBs) fund a wide and changing range of mental health and addiction services, from the National Telehealth Service through to services into the community provided by NGOs and primary care, and on to hospital-based services. Given this complex mix, it is not possible to specifically quantify the percentage increase in patients accessing DHB-funded mental health and addiction services. However, we do know that the demand has increased and so has the funding, including an extra $224 million announced last week in the Budget.

Dr David Clark: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. This question was given on notice, and it is actually the third time I have given a variation of this question to the Minister, on notice—so, over a period of weeks. I would have thought that the Government could come up with an estimate of these costs if it understood what was going on in the health service.

Mr SPEAKER: It is—well, I am not sure if it is the third time—but it is certainly exactly the same question as the member asked on 2 May. Then, he was given an answer that, because of the complexity of the area—where there are NGOs providing help, there are DHBs, and there is Government help, etc.—it is just impossible to do so. That is a satisfactory answer. The member can continue to ask the question time and time again if he wants, but it is unlikely—when I consider the answer given now by the Minister and the Associate Minister on the Minister's behalf—that the answer is going to change.

Dr David Clark: Does he think that it is acceptable that 60 percent of children under 12 in Canterbury with a mental health issue are not seen within the Government's 3-week target period—60 percent?

Hon NICKY WAGNER: We are always concerned about mental health issues, and we are putting the resources behind those. Of course, we always want to see people treated as quickly as possible, but there is a significant cross-Government programme of work occurring at the moment to address the mental health issues and addiction needs of all New Zealanders, including children. What is more, the funding for that has increased from $1.1 to $1.4 billion. We have increased the number of mental health nurses, who are very useful to young children of course, from 2,800 to 3,400, and we have also increased the number of psychiatrists from 290 to 450. So we expect to be able to deliver quicker, closer, and more convenient services.

Dr David Clark: Does he think that it is acceptable that 62 percent of children under 12 in the Capital and Coast DHB area with a mental health issue are not seen within the Government's 3-week target period, and that one in five is still waiting 8 weeks later?

Hon NICKY WAGNER: Of course we are concerned about mental health issues. It is very interesting that the World Health Organization has recently said that mental health is one of the third-greatest diseases across the whole of the Western World. What is more, we are investing in that. It is important to see the amount of investment and the programmes that are coming out of the Budget, which happened just last week. That extra $100 million for a new cross-Government social investment fund—I would like to mention that. That is about early intervention for targeted audiences—things like, perhaps, what you are talking to. We have also got the extra $4.1 million for mental health for families, particularly those involved in employment, and $11.6 million—

Mr SPEAKER: Bring the answer to a conclusion.

Hon NICKY WAGNER: —for Corrections. But this is all about trying to target special cohorts that need more support.

Dr David Clark: Does he think it is acceptable that fewer than half of the children under 12 in the Waikato DHB area with a mental health issue are actually seen within the Government's 3-week target period, and that one in four is still waiting 8 weeks later?

Hon NICKY WAGNER: Of course we want to see all our young people supported and their mental health issues considered. One of the things that will help that is the extra $100 million for district health boards to support local mental health initiatives. That is part of the whole Budget that goes forward. On top of that, there is more money for young Māori, and that is particularly important too. I would just like to reinforce that we are putting more money and more resource into mental health, because we want to deliver better services to all New Zealanders.

Dr David Clark: Does he think it is acceptable that just one out of five children under 12 in the Hutt Valley DHB area with a mental health issue is actually seen within the Government's 3-week target period, and that over half of the children are still waiting 8 weeks later?

Hon NICKY WAGNER: We are very aware that mental health issues are increasing around the whole Western World. That is why we are taking a significant increase in resource for mental health issues and are also creating a new strategy for mental health, which is going through the Cabinet process as we speak. This is something all Governments around the world are dealing with, and we are putting the resource behind it to make sure that we in New Zealand deal with it well.

Dr David Clark: Does he think it is acceptable that across New Zealand nearly half of the children under 12 with a mental health issue are not seen within the Government's 3-week target period?

Hon NICKY WAGNER: Can I repeat that the National Government is very concerned about, and aware of, mental health issues, not only within New Zealand but also around the world. So, in response, we are putting in more resource, more mental health nurses, more psychiatrists, and we are dealing with these issues as quickly and as cost-effectively and as well as we can. We want all New Zealanders, whether they are young people or older people, to be supported if they have mental health issues.

ENDS

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