Sitting date: 9 Oct 2025 
ORAL QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

Question No. 1—Economic Growth

1. DAN BIDOIS (National—Northcote) to the Minister for Economic Growth: What recent announcements has she made?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister for Economic Growth): This morning I announced new Government procurement rules that take effect on 1 December. These are the rules that Government agencies apply when assessing bids to supply them with goods and services, including everything from paper towels to roads. All told, Government contracts are worth more than $50 billion a year. That is a huge amount, but Kiwi businesses have been telling Government for years, over successive Governments, that they've been missing out because the rules are not fit for purpose. Today, the Government has fixed it.

Dan Bidois: What is the key change being made to the Government procurement rules?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: The key change is an economic benefit test that levels the playing field for New Zealand businesses. When considering tender applications, Government agencies will now be required to give a weighting of at least 10 percent to benefits to New Zealand. This means New Zealand companies won't miss out on contracts to overseas competitors because of small differences in price. This provision does not breach international trade agreements, because overseas companies have the same opportunity to demonstrate wider value to New Zealand, and similar provisions exist in many of our trading partners' procurement rules. This Government recognises that there is benefit to New Zealand in companies employing New Zealanders, training New Zealanders, and investing in New Zealand, and we are putting taxpayer dollars to that purpose.

Dan Bidois: What other changes are being made to the rules?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Businesses, particularly small and medium sized businesses, have been telling Government that the paperwork involved in bidding for contracts is too onerous, so we are getting rid of requirements that are redundant or unnecessary, that duplicate content, that repeat statutory and regulatory requirements, or that have never been applied in practice. As a result, the number of rules is being reduced from 71 to 47—far, far simpler.

Dan Bidois: What has been the reaction to the new rules?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Well, if the response to this morning's announcement at Business New Zealand is any guide, unadulterated delight. In the words of Business New Zealand chief executive Katherine Rich, the new rules are transformational, sensible, and fair and will be celebrated by businesses from one end of the country to the other. That is fantastic, and I'd like to pay tribute to Katherine and her team at Business New Zealand. Business New Zealand has been campaigning for this sensible change for 10 years, and I'm glad our Government got it done.

Question No. 2—Māori Development

2. TĀKUTA FERRIS (Te Pāti Māori —Te Tai Tonga) to the Minister for Māori Development: Does he agree with the Waitangi Tribunal's official position on the proposed name change: "We do not support changing the name from the Waitangi Tribunal to a Commission in case it leads to confusion concerning the bespoke jurisdiction we exercise"?

Hon TAMA POTAKA (Minister for Māori Development): The Waitangi Tribunal carries over 50 years of jurisprudence, symbolism, and mana. I am not aware of any proposed name change as the Minister responsible for the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975. But I am aware of last night's excellent 50-year anniversary function at the Legislative Council Chamber, attended by the member in question and other members of this glorious House. Hari huritau 50 ki Te Rōpū Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi.

[Happy 50th anniversary to the Waitangi Tribunal.]

Tākuta Ferris: Can he confirm that the proposed name change would erode the independence of the tribunal, creating a system where Ministers decide what claims can be heard?

Hon TAMA POTAKA: Tē mō'io au ki te ia o te pātai a tēnei mema.

[I don't know what the thrust of the member's question is.]

I am not aware of any proposed name change for the Waitangi Tribunal.

Tākuta Ferris: Is he concerned by Crown Law's own assessment that altering the powers of the tribunal could breach the principle of separation powers and the principle of responsible Government?

Hon TAMA POTAKA: The Government continues to be responsible in this space and is progressing the review announced, in a very timely manner.

Tākuta Ferris: Will he rule out changing the name of the Waitangi Tribunal?

Hon TAMA POTAKA: That is a matter that I've only just become aware of as a result of the question posed to me by the member.

SPEAKER: Question No. 3, the Hon Barbara Edmonds.

Rt Hon Winston Peters: Supplementary question.

SPEAKER: Oh, supplementary question, the Rt Hon Winston Peters.

Rt Hon Winston Peters: Has the Minister looked at the tribunal's statement about their concern regarding a "bespoke jurisdiction"; and having regard to the word "bespoke", who's the tailor here, who's the customer here, who's this being made for: Parliament or some other body?

Hon TAMA POTAKA: My responsibilities in this space are focusing on clarifying these matters, not confusing these matters any further.

Question No. 3—Finance

3. Hon BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour—Mana) to the Minister of Finance: Vinaka vakalevu, Mr Speaker. Is an annual growth rate of negative 1.1 percent, three percentage points lower than forecast before the election, the result of her economic plan; if not, why not?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance): As I said yesterday, and the day before: no. Let me point something out for members. The IMF's latest world economic outlook shows that in 2023, out of all the world's advanced economies, New Zealand had the largest positive output gap. In other words, it had the most overheated economy in the world. Inflation was far above the target band, and the Reserve Bank had to the raise the official cash rate (OCR) to 5.5 percent—the highest rate since 2008. That's why the economy went into a long, painful downturn. It is now recovering but, as often happens in a recovery, the road has been rocky. The member might think that spending more, taxing more, and borrowing more is an alternative plan, but I disagree with it and so do most New Zealanders.

Hon Barbara Edmonds: So, therefore, is she borrowing more or less?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: I'm pleased to report to the House that today's Financial Statements of Government shows that debt, for the first time in five years, has not increased as a proportion of GDP.

Hon Barbara Edmonds: What does she say to one business leader who said, "What has she done to create growth in New Zealand? I can't think of a single thing other than the supermarkets/banking publicity, which so far has not achieved anything."?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Let me count the ways: tax relief for more than a million working New Zealanders; Investment Boost to encourage investment in our businesses so that they can grow; delivering fast-track infrastructure projects; investing in structured literacy in our schools; overhauling the Overseas Investment Act to welcome capital into this country. To finish a theme for the week, here's the quote I preferred from a chief executive in that publication: Labour, "Not as co-ordinated on communications as they need to be, especially between Chris and Barbara."

Hon Barbara Edmonds: Does she agree with Christopher Luxon that, "Nicola Willis and myself understand economics. We understand Budgets. We understand numbers."; if so, is that why, under, even her own measure of OBEGALx, the deficit is higher now than it was it in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Let's keep it simple: I agree with the Prime Minister.

Hon David Seymour: How much of that deficit is interest repayments on debt that was built up by the previous Government?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: It's approximately $8 billion that we are paying to service the interest on our debt. I would also point out that those who are suddenly concerned about deficits might want to ask why they said that every time we made a spending reduction, whether it was pay equity, reducing the number of bureaucrats, reversing stupid programmes, that we shouldn't be cutting spending—get consistent.

Hon Barbara Edmonds: If she understands numbers, then does she understand that the Government reduction in capital asset spending of $2.9 billion less has played a role in the decline of the construction sector and a loss of 20,000 construction sector jobs?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Well, in each of our Budgets, we have invested more funding in public infrastructure, and I can't wait till we sign those contracts for the Northern Gateway road and for the many roads of national significance around the country. I'm proud that, unlike the last Government, we're actually funding Dunedin Hospital, that we're rebuilding Nelson Hospital, that we're building more classrooms every year than they ever managed, and that we built more social homes in the past 23 months than they did in three years.

Hon Barbara Edmonds: Is her idea of an economic plan to deliver more unemployment, a shrinking economy, an inflation that is on the rise, and to blame everyone else except Nicola Willis?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: No, it is not, but I think that those who commit arson and then blame the firefighter should not repeat the same mistake. All I've heard from that member is: lets borrow more, lets spend more, lets drive up the debt and inflation; and that is no prescription.

Question No. 4—Tourism and Hospitality

4. RIMA NAKHLE (National—Takanini) to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What recent announcements has she made about supporting major events and tourism in New Zealand?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Tourism and Hospitality): Last week, we served up a major win for sports fans and tourism alike. We announced a $5 million investment in a new centre court roof for Auckland's Manuka Doctor Arena. This is the first infrastructure project from our $70 million major events and tourism package. This upgrade is a grand slam for New Zealand's events sector; it means rain delays will be out, and world-class tennis will be in no matter the weather. Tourism and major events are a crucial part of our Government's focus on economic growth. More world-class events mean more visitors, more jobs, and a growing economy.

Rima Nakhle: Why is this investment needed?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON: This investment will help New Zealand stay match fit on the international stage. If we want to continue to attract world-class events to New Zealand, we need to have world-class facilities to go along with it. This investment not only futureproofs centre court against the weather but also expands the types of events that can be held there, attracting more visitors and supporting our economy. The arena is also an important asset for the Auckland community, promoting the growth and development of tennis for players of all ages.

Rima Nakhle: How will this investment benefit tourism in Auckland and beyond?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON: This investment is a game-changer. The ASB Classic alone attracts thousands of visitors each year, and next year will be the 70th year of this event. In 2024, just this one event alone brought significant economic benefit to Auckland, resulting in 16,600 visitor nights to the region and injecting $3.4 million into the economy. With a covered centre court, we'll be able to serve up more events year-round, and welcome even more fans, players, and international media. More visitors means more bookings, more meals, and more spending in local shops and hotels.

Rima Nakhle: What feedback has she received on this announcement?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON: I promise this is the last one: we have had a volley of positive feedback. Tennis Auckland CEO Rohan West has said, "It's absolutely massive. I can't underplay the significance of it.", saying it gives the organisation the confidence to move ahead with the project. The Auckland Business Chamber has said the announcement is "Really welcome news for Auckland. Ongoing matters like this make our biggest city a better place to live in, work in, and more competitive with our Aussie cousin cities.". This announcement is already proving—oops, one more—to be a winning shot, which means New Zealand's tennis future is game, set, and match.

Question No. 5—Economic Growth

SPEAKER: Question No. 5, the Hon Ginny Andersen.

Hon Member: Oh, here's McEnroe.

Hon Ginny Andersen: Tēnā koe—

SPEAKER: Sorry. Just wait while one or two people up the back there calm themselves down.

5. Hon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister for Economic Growth: Is her economic plan responsible for higher unemployment and more business failures; if not, why not?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister for Economic Growth): No. Is it just me or have I answered this question half a dozen times already? Higher unemployment is a result of an economic downturn driven by high interest rates—high interest rates needed to bring down inflation, fuelled by reckless and undisciplined Government spending. That may be the member's economic plan; it is not mine, thank goodness.

Hon Ginny Andersen: Why then are there 36,000 people who are not in work and liquidations are up 26 percent?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Well, these are the terrible human consequences of a down-turning economy which results when it is mismanaged as poorly as it was by the last Government. It is also the case, though—I would point out to members—that the number of unemployed New Zealanders at this point still remains lower than Grant Robertson was forecasting it would be at this point.

Hon Ginny Andersen: Why does she continue to refer to the pre-election forecasts for unemployment but not the GDP forecasts, which are three percentage points higher than what she has delivered?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Because as the Treasury has previously acknowledged extensively on the record, they vastly overestimated their growth assumptions in the pre-election fiscal update, which may have been convenient for the Minister at the time but was inaccurate none the less.

Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan: How can she justify her plan when it has led to rising power and rent costs and a failing construction industry that has forced Auckland-based business Pipe Vision to go under and to cut 100 jobs?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Well, if that member's version of economics is that every Government should take responsibility for every firm that ever fails, then I invite her to have a chat with Barbara Edmonds. But I would also point out that the assertion that rents have gone up under our Government is not correct. In fact, what we have seen is downward pressure on rents since being elected after a period of extreme rent rises under the previous Government.

Cushla Tangaere-Manuel: Has Ikaroa-Rāwhiti been left out of her plan when the Hawke's Bay lost 837 jobs in just one quarter and Eastern Institute of Technology, Tairāwhiti lost 40 academic and support roles, who were there to help young people into work?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Well, no. How could they possibly be left out when they are represented by Dana Kirkpatrick and Katie Nimon, two of the extraordinary members of Parliament in the National Party caucus?

Rachel Boyack: Is her economic plan responsible for the more than 300 workers from Carter Holt Harvey, Sealord—

Hon Member: Shame!

Rachel Boyack: —and Proper Crisps in Nelson-Tasman—

Hon Member: Shame!

Rachel Boyack: —who are losing their jobs—

SPEAKER: Sorry; stop. Who is calling out during a question? You don't do that. [Rawiri Waititi wags his finger] I never wag a finger like that; it's something that is particular to you. Rachel Boyack—start again.

Rachel Boyack: Is her economic plan responsible for the more than 300 workers from Carter Holt Harvey, Sealord, and Proper Crisps in Nelson-Tasman, who are losing their jobs or should they not take it personally?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: No. what our economic plan is directly responsible for is more than half a billion dollars having been committed to rebuilding Nelson Hospital and the fast tracking of a major housing development that on her watch would have been tied up in red tape for years. [Interruption] We'll take responsibility. [Interruption] And I think you will find that the people of Nelson would like it if you'd just welcome the investment in their hospital.

SPEAKER: No, I think if we're going to have that sort of outburst, we'll just move on to the next question. It's largely in Opposition's hands, but you cannot ask a question and then engage in a barrage like that and expect that you're going to be given other opportunities to do the same.

Hon Jan Tinetti: In what way is two plants closing and 249 jobs being lost in Tokoroa a sign that her plan is working?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Well, as I pointed out to her colleague Ginny Andersen in the previous answer, a number of factors contribute to firms no longer being profitable. One of those factors is very high interest rates, which is why our Government has worked so hard to take pressure off inflation and ensure the Reserve Bank has had space to reduce those interest rates. [Interruption]

SPEAKER: I've repeatedly now, over a number of days, expressed the view that the sort of ongoing chips are not reasonable, nor are they witty, nor do they add anything to the debate and members should refrain from doing it. There's one particular member who I know is now diligently looking at a piece of paper who would do well to take that on board.

Hon Ginny Andersen: Has she considered asking for help with her numeracy, considering that she considers negative growth to be a sign of recovery?

Hon NICOLA WILLIS: No. As my mother once said to me, if you can't say anything nice, which I can't right now, don't say anything at all.

Question No. 6—Conservation

6. GRANT McCALLUM (National—Northland) to the Minister of Conservation: What recent reports has the Minister seen on the Hauraki Gulf?

Hon TAMA POTAKA (Minister of Conservation): On Tuesday, with the backing of all the parties that were present that day in this fine Parliament, the tautoko and support of iwi around Tīkapa Maona, and thousands of New Zealanders, we passed this bill that will triple marine protection in the Hauraki Gulf.

Various groups have welcomed and celebrated this step: the Environmental Defence Society, of course, calling it a landmark achievement for conservation; Forest & Bird saying it's a significant victory for the Hauraki Gulf; and Seafood New Zealand welcoming the bill as a balanced approach for marine protection. I look forward to seeing the recovery of this iconic, majestic, and epic place, moving forward.

Grant McCallum: What benefits will the new protections have for marine conservation and ecosystems?

Hon TAMA POTAKA: This bill introduces 19 new, expanded marine protection areas, and is the largest increase in marine protection in Aotearoa New Zealand in over a decade. The amount of area that is to be protected here is twice the size of Singapore. We hope to see snapper density increase; spiny rock lobster increase—I just want to acknowledge Minister Jones in his protection for that—the recovery of ecologically important species such as corals, cockles, anemones, and mussels; and, of course, the reduction of kina barrens. Also protected will be some of the smaller and less well-known species such as colourful and flamboyant nudibranches, which have helped inspire some of the outfits of the hard-working people in my office this week. Effective marine protection, we know, helps restore the health and mauri of seascapes.

Grant McCallum: How will this support jobs and greater economic growth in the region?

Hon TAMA POTAKA: A 2023 NZ Institute of Economic Research report stated that the economic value of the Hauraki Gulf is $100 billion and produces over $5 billion of value each and every year, to this country. There's a lot more potential for economic activity in the Gulf because it can generate tourism opportunities, such as diving, snorkelling, and watching marine mammals and porpoises. We know that healthy marine environments can boost tourism by looking at the Goat Island Te Hāwere-a-Maki Marine Reserve, celebrating its 50th anniversary this week, which accommodates and hosts over 350,000 visitors per annum. The economy and the environment go together.

Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour): Why did he allow eleventh-hour lobbying to influence changes that now enable commercial fishing in high protection areas, when reports show that it will further damage the health of the Gulf?

Hon TAMA POTAKA: As you will all know, as members of this House, my astute selection is sometimes a compromise, as is moving legislation through this House. But isn't it ironic that the very member who asked that question today also, along with her party, voted for it yesterday.

Grant McCallum: Looking ahead, how can we leverage the partnerships that have been formed to capture more opportunities?

Hon TAMA POTAKA: Te Māngai o te Whare, this bill presents a fantastic opportunity for co-investment into the Hauraki Gulf, and getting to this point of having this bill passed is a result of over a decade of collaboration; can I mention Sir Robert Fenwick and Nikki Kaye in this light. It signals what is possible when we work together—kāwanatanga, iwi, industry, various groups like Live Ocean—to produce outcomes for all New Zealanders, especially Aucklanders. This is just the beginning; Nicola Rata-MacDonald, the co-chair of the Hauraki Gulf Forum and CEO of Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust said it has taken an army of united voices to protect this taonga, and I congratulate everyone on their involvement and look forward to our next steps.

Lan Pham: What is his message to the 32,000 Kiwis who signed the World Wide Fund for Nature's petition urging his Government to remove the carve-out that allows commercial fishing in the Gulf's high protection areas due to the risk that it sets a dangerous precedent where industry lobbyists could weaken future marine protections?

GRANT McCALLUM: My message is this: to the 32,000 people and the 5.5 million New Zealanders and Kiwis that voted in their elected officials to this glorious institution of Parliament, all parties present in Parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of the very comments and the very provisions that the member asked for.

Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can I ask the Minister as to where are the customers for those limited commercial fishing operations—are they New Zealand customers or overseas customers?

Hon TAMA POTAKA: I am advised that the customers for those particular ring net fishing operators are New Zealand and particularly Auckland customers.

Question No. 7—Social Development and Employment

7. RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH (Green) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she stand by the Government's decision to apply tightened eligibility criteria to 18- and 19-year-olds accessing jobseeker support (health condition or disability); if so, why?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Social Development and Employment): Yes, jobseeker support (health condition or disability) is a temporary support for people who are limited in their ability to work for two years because of a health condition, injury, or disability. It's designed to support them while they recover and prepare to re-enter the workforce. Those with permanent or severe conditions are supported through the Supported Living Payment which recognises long-term incapacity. Our Government has high aspirations for young New Zealanders, and we make no apologies for encouraging them into education, further training, or employment instead of welfare. This approach helps young people to build independence rather than be reliant on welfare.

Ricardo Menéndez March: Does she agree with the Disabled Persons Assembly who told 1News last night that disabled people face barriers to access the Supported Living Payment due to a lack of access to diagnoses, and, if so, does she accept there are several people with long term conditions who are on jobseeker support (health and disabilities)?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON: What I can say is that we have aspirations for all young New Zealanders and it was fantastic, just last week, to meet with an organisation employing young disabled people. I saw how important and how critical it is for them to be in employment and the massive difference it makes in terms of their lives.

Ricardo Menéndez March: Is it fair to subject 18- and 19-year-olds who are receiving jobseeker support (health condition or disability) to the new parental assistance test when they're suffering from severe ill mental health, recovering from a car accident, or undergoing cancer treatment as reported by 1News?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Let me be clear that the jobseeker (health condition and disability) is, as I said in my primary answer, for temporary conditions. We have other systems like ACC to support people who have had severe accidents and the Supported Living Payment for those with permanent incapacity. What I won't make any apology for in this House is our Government's ambition and expectation for 18- and 19-year-olds to have a great life and not be stuck on welfare for another 18 years of their life.

Ricardo Menéndez March: Why restrict access to income support for people who cannot work, temporarily or otherwise?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Because we want to see them engaged in education, engaged in training, and preparing for work, and if they can't, then to be supported by their parents. It's a very simple policy. We've got high expectations, and we want young people to do well and not be trapped for a lifetime on welfare.

Ricardo Menéndez March: Does she accept that many of the people on that benefit that she's now restricting access to are also not able to go into education due to those very same health conditions or disabilities?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON: That's exactly why there are programmes to support them. We don't think that it is acceptable in a country like ours to leave a whole generation of New Zealanders to rot on welfare.

SPEAKER: Question No. 8, Glen Bennett—before you start, Mr Bennett, there is a huge amount of conversation going on that needs to stop.

Question No. 8—Tourism and Hospitality

8. GLEN BENNETT (Labour) to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: Are recent hospitality industry closures the result of the Going For Growth strategy; if not, why not?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Tourism and Hospitality): Our Going for Growth strategy is about strengthening our economy and creating the conditions for businesses and Kiwis to succeed. Recent closures in the hospitality sector are primarily driven by economic pressures, including high inflation and high interest rates, which were the legacy of the previous Government. That's why our Government's relentless focus on economic growth is so important so that businesses have the confidence to invest, to hire, and to grow. Our investments into tourism and hospitality will mean more international visitors, more full tables in our restaurants, more jobs being created across the country, and a stronger economy overall.

Glen Bennett: Does she consider the more than 2,500 hospitality closures and almost 300 liquidations in the past 12 months evidence that her Government is driving economic growth for the hospitality industry?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON: I've got great news for that member. In August 2025, there were 135 more businesses in accommodation and food services than the previous month and that is trending up. That's great news.

Shanan Halbert: How can hospitality in Auckland's CBD thrive when the Heart of the City survey showed that 77 percent of business owners say that the Government does not listen to their needs?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON: I disagree. If you look at another quote from Hospitality New Zealand, you can see that they are incredibly supportive of the Government's major tourism and events boost and they know the enormous difference that that will make.

Greg O'Connor: What does it say about the state of the economy when popular Wellington venue Fortune Favours is forced to close, saying, the "cost of living crisis has proven too difficult", after business dropped nearly 45 percent in two years?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON: That member should have listened to the answer I gave to my first question, which was to say exactly that economic challenges from high inflation and high interest rates, which have led to an economic recession, have made it difficult for businesses to operate. The good news, though, is that in the last month, we've seen more new businesses open than close.

Glen Bennett: How can she stand by her economic growth strategy for hospitality when thousands of hospitality businesses are closing and tens of thousands of people are still looking for work?

Hon LOUISE UPSTON: I would invite that member to actually look at the data around the tourism and hospitality sector. Hospitality job advertisements are up 3.8 percent in July compared to last July. That's great news. It's looking up. There are more jobs and we're excited about it. I'm surprised that member isn't.

Question No. 9—Courts

9. TODD STEPHENSON (ACT) to the Minister for Courts: What outcomes has she seen from this Government's focus on delivering faster justice for New Zealanders?

Hon NICOLE McKEE (Minister for Courts): This Government is committed to restoring law and order and improving the timeliness of our courts. That's why I was pleased to see reports from the District Court's civil jurisdiction showing active cases down 20 percent in the year to July 2025 and the average age of active cases dropping by a remarkable 36 percent over the same period. This means thousands of New Zealanders are getting their cases resolved months sooner. Justice delayed is justice denied, and that's why this Government is focused on fixing what matters to deliver fastest justice for New Zealanders.

Todd Stephenson: What timeliness improvements has she seen regarding the Disputes Tribunal?

Hon NICOLE McKEE: The Disputes Tribunal has had an outstanding year, completing more than 900 extra cases in the year to July 2025 compared to the year before. Even more pleasing is the tribunal's focus on targeting older cases, which has led to a 21 percent drop in aged files. That's 134 fewer aged cases than in July last year. This means more disputes being resolved quickly and fewer New Zealanders left waiting for decisions.

Todd Stephenson: What progress has been made in the Coroners Court?

Hon NICOLE McKEE: I'm pleased to report that the Coroners Court has reduced its active caseload by 15 percent thanks to the introduction of associate coroners, clinical advisers, and relief coroners. The number of active cases now sits at levels not seen since 2020. As a result, families are getting closure sooner and cases are moving through the system faster.

Todd Stephenson: What additional work does the Government have under way to continue to improve court timeliness?

Hon NICOLE McKEE: This Government has a strong pipeline of reforms to deliver faster justice. We're expanding community magistrates' powers so that they can manage more District Court cases and raising the High Court judicial cap to increase capacity. We will ensure remote participation in our courts is fit for purpose. I could go on, but instead I'll finish by thanking the judiciary, courts, and the Ministry of Justice staff, who, like the Government, are working hard to fix what matters and improve the timeliness of our courts.

Greg O'Connor: What additional funding will she seek for the courts given the Chief Justice's view that our justice system is under considerable stress?

Hon NICOLE McKEE: Thank you for that patsy question from the member across. Budget 2025 contained funding of $18.3 million over four years to fund two additional High Court judges and associated staff, as well as expand the number of community magistrates by three and appointing the Chief Community Magistrate. This extra capacity will help relieve pressure across the justice system and improve timeliness, leading to a reduction in backlogs and the time that people do spend on remand. The Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill has been introduced, which will make changes across three Acts to improve court procedure and increase the number of High Court judges that can be appointed. We are committed to fixing what matters.

Question No. 10—Pacific Peoples

10. Hon JENNY SALESA (Labour—Panmure-Ōtāhuhu) to the Minister for Pacific Peoples: Ni sa bula vinaka. Happy Fijian Language Week. Does he believe that the Ministry for Pacific Peoples has a role to play in getting more Pasifika into work or training; if so, how will it address the current unemployment rate for Pasifika peoples, which is double what it was at the end of 2023 when the Government came into office?

Hon Dr SHANE RETI (Minister for Pacific Peoples): Bula, Mr Speaker. I am aware of the recent rise in Pasifika unemployment, which is concerning. The Ministry for Pacific Peoples, alongside the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and the education sector, have a role to play in placing more Pacific peoples into work or training. We are relentlessly focused on growing the economy, to support Pacific peoples, and all New Zealanders, with better job opportunities, higher wages, and a brighter future.

Hon Jenny Salesa: Does he regret repeatedly cutting funding to the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, including cutting $22 million out of the Tupu Aotearoa work-ready programme at a time when Pacifica unemployment is 12.1 percent, more than double the national average?

Hon Dr SHANE RETI: What I regret is the actions the previous Government took that put us in this position.

Hon Jenny Salesa: Was the $22 million cut from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples' Tupu Aotearora work-ready programme transferred, in its entirety, to MSD for targeted Pasifika employment and training programmes; if so, what are they?

Hon Dr SHANE RETI: The transfer of Tupu Aotearora to the MSD programme was to generate efficiencies by collaborating with two programmes that were, effectively, producing much of the same. The complete transfer did not occur to MSD.

Hon Jenny Salesa: How can he say that the MSD programmes was actually for efficiencies when he previously claimed that it, and I quote, "was particularly to look at those who are not in employment, education, and training, different to MSD in that it wasn't limited or capped by the age bracket, like MSD"?

Hon Dr SHANE RETI: I don't have responsibility for MSD, but I do have responsibility for the programmes that the Ministry for Pacific Peoples brings to the question of Pasifika employment. That includes the Pacific Business Trust and Pacific Business Village, which placed hundreds of people in the last financial year; the partnership with Pacific Media Network, through the Moana Reo Media Fund, which, again, has placed hundreds of jobs; and Pacific Building Affordable Homes and Our Whare Our Fale, which are stimulating Pacific-led construction and employment, as just a few examples.

Hon Jenny Salesa: When will he accept responsibility and take action to help Pasifika into employment or training, when, in the last year alone, 6,100 more Pasifika people are now unemployed and 1,900 more Pasifika young people are not in education, employment, or training?

Hon Dr SHANE RETI: I acknowledge the challenge with employment for Pacific people. I've already identified three initiatives that the Ministry for Pacific Peoples has responsibility for, in collaboration with other ministries, including the Ministry for Social Development. I would highlight Alo Vaka, which, amongst other things, developed 14 micro-credentialing courses in the last financial year and more than 6,000 micro-credentials delivered to Pasifika, particularly Pasifika youth.

Question No. 11—Mental Health

11. Dr VANESSA WEENINK (National—Banks Peninsula) to the Minister for Mental Health: What recent announcements has he made on the Government's mental health targets?

Hon MATT DOOCEY (Minister for Mental Health): One of my top priorities is faster access to mental health support for all New Zealanders. Last week, I released quarter four mental health target data, which shows that more Kiwis are getting faster access to mental health support. I've always said that I won't be just happy with the national average; it's the ability to measure performance in the 20 health districts that will make a real difference. No matter where you live, this Government is committed to ensuring, when someone is reaching out for support, that timely support is there.

Dr Vanessa Weenink: What progress has been made in achieving the faster access to primary mental health and addiction target?

Hon MATT DOOCEY: Good news: this Government is focused on delivering faster access to support, more front-line workers, and a better crisis response. That's why this Government set a target of 80 percent of people being seen in primary mental health services within one week. We are meeting that target, with 83.8 percent being seen within one week. In the South Island, access to primary mental health support has improved from 75 percent in quarter one to 84.7 percent in quarter four—well above the target. The Southern district went from being one of the worst-performing districts, at 66.4 percent, to one of the best, at 91 percent of Southern residents accessing services within one week.

Dr Vanessa Weenink: What progress has been made in reducing wait times in emergency departments?

Hon MATT DOOCEY: Improving our crisis response is a key part of our mental health plan. Across the country, all regions have improved the number of people waiting less than six hours in emergency departments to receive timely mental health support. This is a target where we have seen the biggest improvements. In the Northern region, there's been an 11.3 percent improvement, which has been driven by an increase of 8.9 percent in Northland, and an impressive 20.8 percent improvement in Auckland. When Kiwis, their loved ones, friends, or family members make the brave step of reaching out for help, this Government is committed to ensuring we have the right support in place.

Dr Vanessa Weenink: What progress has been made in achieving the faster access to specialist mental health and addiction target?

Hon MATT DOOCEY: Our mental health plan is working nationally. We're achieving the specialist target of 80 percent of people receiving support within three weeks. It's pleasing to see areas like Taranaki and South Canterbury seeing 90 percent of residents within three weeks—however, there is still work to do to lift performance in some districts. That's why I meet regularly with Health New Zealand regional leaders to ensure plans are in place to lift areas of underperformance and ensure we're constantly improving access to mental health services. The data shows that we're turning the corner on reducing wait times. We're also increasing the front-line mental health workforce, which has grown by 10 percent since coming into office, with the child and adolescent workforce growing by 19 percent and peer support lived experience by almost 100 percent.

Question No. 12—Justice

12. TAMATHA PAUL (Green—Wellington Central) to the Minister of Justice: Why are Māori disproportionately overrepresented in prison populations in Aotearoa?

Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister of Justice): It is a sad reality that Māori are overrepresented in prison, and nobody is happy with that fact. The consistent focus of the justice system over many decades has been to reduce that overrepresentation, and it has proven very difficult. As to why, there will, naturally, be a variety of opinions. At one level, the make-up of the current prison population primarily reflects offending rates in New Zealand. As the recent Long-Term Insights Briefing on imprisonment in New Zealand outlined, "Most people serving sentences in prison in New Zealand have been convicted of serious sexual or violent offending. New Zealand prisons are not full of people in prison for minor charges." It is also a fact that Māori are disproportionately overrepresented as victims of crime in New Zealand, which is why this Government is focused on restoring real consequences for crime and reducing the number of victims of crime. That is our primary focus in the justice sector, regardless of ethnicity.

Tamatha Paul: Does the Minister agree that it is important for Corrections to accurately record the ethnicity of incarcerated people; and, if so, why hasn't the Government implemented action 5.1 of the Hōkai Rangi Strategy to "Accurately record ethnicity, descent, and iwi affiliation … (consistent and in conjunction with Stats New Zealand standards and iwi)"?

Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: That is probably a question best directed to the Minister of Corrections, but I'm sure every effort is made to accurately record data.

Tamatha Paul: Point of order, Mr Speaker. I wasn't able to get a good answer to my question because of the jurisdiction—[Interruption].

SPEAKER: Sorry. There's a bit of a hum—

Tamatha Paul: Yeah, a lot of noise.

SPEAKER: —in the gallery so I can't hear you. Speak clearly into your microphone.

Tamatha Paul: Yup. For context, Mr Speaker, my question is about the overrepresentation of Māori in prison populations. Originally, it was directed to the Minister of Corrections but was redirected to the Minister of Justice. My supplementary question just now, asking about the Hōkai Rangi Strategy, was not answered because it is within the delegation of—

SPEAKER: I'll tell you what, ask your question again—

Tamatha Paul: Again? Yep.

SPEAKER: —because if the Government has decided that this is the Minister who can answer it, we should expect an answer.

Tamatha Paul: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I'll repeat my question: does the Minister agree that it is important for Corrections to accurately record the ethnicity of incarcerated people; and, if so, why hasn't the Government implemented action 5.1 of the Hōkai Rangi strategy to "Accurately record ethnicity, descent, and iwi affiliation data"?

Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: In answer to the first part of the question: yes.

Rt Hon Winston Peters: Does the Minister think that defunding the police and letting offenders go without prosecution has any chance of helping innocent Māori victims?

Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: No, I don't think that would be helpful to Māori victims of crime, and that certainly appears to be the Greens' policy.

Tamatha Paul: Does the Minister know whether the methods currently used by the Department of Corrections for ethnicity data collection are giving an accurate view of who is in prison?

Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Well, I don't have that detail to hand. I certainly can confirm that Corrections and the broader justice sector are very focused primarily on reducing the number of victims of crime, regardless of their ethnicity; unlike the previous Government, which had a focus on reducing the number of people in prison irrespective of what was going on in the community. Our focus is on reducing the number of victims of crime.

Tamatha Paul: What evidence does he have that a higher prison population makes Māori safer?

Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Well, if you're wanting to reduce the number of victims of crime, a very good place to start is with that very, very small section of New Zealand society that creates multiple victims over and over again. The primary focus is effective rehabilitation of people who have been involved in violent crime, but there are some people that need to be kept out of society for a while so that the rest of society can be kept safe. That is a pretty important part of our justice response.

Hon Nicole McKee: Is it this Government's position that if someone does the crime then they're going to do the time, regardless of their ethnicity?

Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Yes, indeed, that is our position. It is not from a sole focus on the punitive side of justice—though that is important—it is part of a broader focus of our justice sector response, which is to reduce the number of victims of crime. The good news is that collectively in this country we're making great progress towards that target that the Government has to reduce the overall number of victims of crime. When we came in, there were 185,000 New Zealanders suffering violent offences; we've reduced that down to 156,000 in the latest stats. That is still 156,000 too many New Zealanders, and we're determined to make further progress.

Tamatha Paul: Was Moana Jackson wrong when he said, "the majority of those behind bars are Māori, and the system itself reflects a punishing and very real racism.", or does he accept that the overrepresentation of Māori in prisons is a reflection of structural racism? [Interruption]

SPEAKER: Hold on! Hold on! Right-o.

Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: In regards to structural racism, I would say that that's a very easy phrase for an academic to use, but I would say to the thousands of New Zealanders—Māori, Pākehā, and from a wide variety of ethnicities—who get up early every morning to work at Corrections or the courts or in many parts of the justice sector, the suggestion that they are just mere cogs in the wheel of a structurally racist regime is an insult to those people who work hard every day to do the right thing for this country and to keep New Zealanders safe. I don't think that's an appropriate way to reflect on their efforts.

Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could the Minister tell us exactly how many Māori accused did Moana Jackson ever defend at court? [Interruption] What's wrong with that question?

SPEAKER: Well, it's something you could put in a written question. I doubt the Minister's got that at hand.

Hon Nicole McKee: Can the Minister also confirm that Māori are disproportionately represented among the victims of crime, and would it help to go soft on the perpetrators for reasons of political correctness?

Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Well, yes, I can confirm that Māori are overrepresented amongst the victims of crime, and that is why this Government is absolutely focused in its justice policy on reducing the number of victims of crime. That's what it's all about. We have made good progress towards that goal but we are very conscious of the fact that there is a lot of progress yet to be made because New Zealanders deserve to feel safe in their communities. They do feel safer than they did a couple of years ago, but we can do so much better as a country. That's why we're focused on strong, clear, consequences for crime.

SPEAKER: The time for oral questions has concluded. There is a maiden speech to follow, but we'll give everyone who needs to go to other business 30 seconds to leave the House without discussion, without any slowness of movement.

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