Question Time 08 April 2025

Watching from home. Tuned in just in time... the way things are going, I'll probably be working from home tomorrow as well. Still waiting on my benefit application. 1. Chippy vs. Prime Omelette (C 6, PO 4) Talking about the Paris agreement. 'We want farmers doing exceptionally well in this country' - Omelette. 'It is in our national interest' to promote economic growth - Omelette. Winston and The Pink Skull are apparently suggesting that NZ might leave the Paris agreement. The Prime Omelette denied this. 'Crocodile tears from the Leader of the Opposition' - Omelette on Winston's work in foreign affairs and Chippy's statements. 2. Chloe to Prime Omelette (CS 5, PO 4) 'This government is prioritising economic growth above and beyond all else' - Omelette. Defending the defence plan by saying they're critical to climate mitigation. My view is that climate mitigation and support should be separate to the NZDF. $2.4 billion of climate policies cut. $3 billion a year of increased defence spending. 'It's all rather sanctimonious to talk about values ... pull your weight' - Omelette. 'Wait for the budget' - Jonesy. 3. Brewer to Nicola (CB 5, NW 6) 'The tariffs imposed are likely to be modest ... ours is a small, globally connected economy' - Nicola. The Asia region is where roughly 70% of New Zealand's trade is done, which is apparently slowing. Economic forecasts: yawn! 'Our goal is to steer our economy through these choppy waters' - Nicola. 4. Barbara to Nicola (BE 6, NW 5) 'New Zealand's economy is recovering from an earlier period' - Nicola. How can NZ exporters trust her? - Barbara. 'Our diplomats are, in fact, engaging with the US administration ... we will continue to fight for our exporters' - Nicola. 'What happened to "global events don't matter?" ' - Chippy Nicola accused Barbara of paraphrasing and selective quotes. Can't make out the opposition interjections... Bullshit supplementaries from both the ACT and NZ First leaders: Gary usually says that's them bailing out a struggling Minister. 5. Wedd to Bish (CW 5, CB 5) Granny flats. 70 square metres without needing resource consent. 'Homeowners were supportive of the granny flat policy' - Bish. Patsy question. 'There will be an amendment to the Building Act' ... the Honourable Shane Jones was the mastermind of the scheme, apparently. 6. Ayesha to Slimeon (AV 6, SB 4) 'Too many New Zealanders, including those in Tairāwhiti, are waiting too long' - Slimeon. 38.55% vacancy rate, but an increase of senior medical officers in the Gisborne region. 'Health NZ is actively recruiting' - Slimeon. He was the first person to yell today: even Chloe was fairly sedate. Is it more important to file paperwork or treat sick children? - Ayesha. 'We're investing the money, the vacancies have been approved for recruitment.' - Slimeon Monthly reporting of vacancies? 7. Stephenson to The Pink Skull (TS 5, PS 5) Pharmac/Medsafe changes. If two other countries have certified a medication, then it's expected to be approved in New Zealand within 30 days. 'We are simply duplicating work by insisting that we overdo our consenting of new medicines when they've already been approved in other countries' - Pink Skull. Ozempic... diet pills aren't medicine. Overall, the vibe seems quieter today. 8. Van der Molen to Penk (TV 5, CP 6) Chris, the former soldier, speaking for Judith. A 15 year defence plan, with a particular focus on the first four years. Defence spending is supposed to increase to 2% of GDP within eight years. Mostly equipment investments. I read a piece which said that without the personnel, this would be a waste of time. They've changed requirements around technical training in the Army as well. We have the eighth-largest EEC in the world (Exclusive Economic Zone). 'A strong partnership with industry' - Penk. 9. Marama to Prime Omelette (MD 7, PO 4) 31 percent of emergency housing applications are being turned down. 'More homelessness!' - Chloe. Now I can hear the left interjections! '2,500 families are now out of those motels and in proper houses' - Omelette. Marama's got him talking in circles... 'Our Government support has not changed' - Omelette.

10. Ginny to Upston (GA 6, LU 4) 'Our economy is stronger when more people are working' - Upston. 460 lost jobs at the pulp mills... Regional NZ focus. Ginny's questioning the employment action plan. School lunch contracts are cutting lots of jobs. Upston said she wasn't the relevant minister, resulting in a wry chuckle. This one is attracting a lot of chatter. 11. McCallum to Stay Puft Police Minister (GM 5, MM 4) 'I'm proud of the work they do' - Mitchell, who was on the beat with the Wellington Police over the weekend. What has the beat team achieved? 'A massive contribution towards making Wellington safer' - Mitchell, who said that the stats are down. Now they're taking cheap shots at Tamatha. 12. Davidson to Goldie (RD 6, PG 4) Broadcasting and media. Repealed restrictions on Sunday advertising, and some changes to the Screen Production rebate. Lots of job losses across all media companies... the Dakumentary was largely made just before the media crisis. Changes to the Broadcasting Act as well. 'A strong, growing economy is the best response' - Goldie. This is a nightmare portfolio, regardless of who is in charge. Winston blamed the failed TVNZ-RNZ merger for wasting money. Gerry told Willie Jackson to shut up. Good job. Despite the annoying supplementaries, Reuben Davidson was able to stay on point, but didn't get any real answers. If I was in the Press Gallery with my laptop, I could type it up this fast.