Question Time 25.09.2024

Today opened with a half-hour debate after a ministerial statement by Slimeon about the Northland transmission tower collapse in June this year. Slimeon said that distributed electricity networks saved $26 million in productivity. Megan Woods asked if the Government was planning to compensate people. 'That is not a matter for me. That is a matter for Transpower.' - Slimeon Scott Willis from the Green Party talked some more about distributed networks and renewables, along with amending the electricity code.

Simon Court from Act said some pointless drivel about privatisation. 'Fuck you, you cunt' - Gary. NZ First didn't speak; neither did Te Pāti Māori. 1. Bidois to Willis DB 5, NW 5

Core crown tax revenue slightly up and expenses slightly down, but we're still in deficit.

More economics jargon... 'controlling spending' - Nicola 'Because making rich people pay tax is too hard' - Gary. 2. Marcroft to Jonesy JM 5, SJ 4 Opōtiki -- 'the first major harbour built in New Zealand in decades' 'The day of staying home on the dole is over' - Jonesy. 'We want the opportunities, we want the resources' - Jonesy. 3. Sepuloni to Omelette CS 7, PO 4

Some tough questions. The Prime Omelette described Mark Mitchell as 'one of the best police ministers since World War II.'

'Winston Peters is doing an exceptionally good job as Foreign Minister' - Omelette. 'What a petty line of questions!' - Omelette.

4. MacLeod to Bishop DM 5, CB 5 Splitting the RMA in two, one section focussing on the environment and the other focussing on building things. Lots of corporate jargon .. 'implementation is very important' ... that sort-of thing. 'The RMA is an active blot on growth' - Bishop, who said that the reforms were likely to be finished some time late next year.

5. Chlöe to the Omelette CS 6, PO 3

'Tougher consequences' for people who threaten public transport workers. Apparently there's been a rise in the number of people attacking public transport workers. Oil and gas again ... the Omelette made a huge unforced error here. Chlöe lobbed up that same old question about how long it takes for the mines to come online, saying it took 16 years. The Prime Omelette said that 'he didn't know that until now', or something very much along those lines. 6. Edmonds to Willis BE 5, NW 5

Ferries. 'We are taking the time to get it right' - Nicola. 'The last time a member of the government has been on an interisland ferry was...' - Gary. Otherwise, it was pretty dry. Nothing much of consequence. 7. Rutherford to Stanford TM 5, ES 6

Structured literacy: they say they've trained a few thousand teachers, and that they're also offering phonics checks in te reo. 'We are committed to excellent Māori outcomes' - Erica, who I gather is one of the few Māori MPs in the coalition. 'Fucking anecdotes: none of the statistics match the agenda' - Gary. 8. S. Willis to Slimeon SW 6, SB 4

When will NZ's power grid be fully renewable?

'Prohibitively expensive to achieve' - Slimeon. 'Don't have to attract private investment if you're the government' - Gary. Same lines as always ... the energy debate is important, but really boring. 'Indigenous gas' - Slimeon. Chlöe laughed at that. 9. Willie Jackson to Paul Goldsmith WJ 5, PG 5

Treaty question. When has the minister acted in good faith? 'All New Zealanders' - Goldsmith. How many iwi are planning to take the government to court? 38. Don Brash: 'a true New Zealand patriot' - that's a quote from a biography of Brash that Goldsmith wrote in the 1990's. 10. Weenink to Doocey VW 5, MD 4 Mental health awareness week. They're aiming to train an extra 500 people per year, alongside doubling clinical psychology internships by 2027 and new funding for peer support. Hiring freeze? Well, if there is one, Doocey isn't going to admit it.

Reading off the sheet... Mariameno asked if he could provide results for young male Māori, which didn't really seem to go anywhere. 11. Tākuta Ferris to the Prime Omelette TF 6, PO 3

Treaty Principles ... Tākuta quoted Ngāi Tahu elders who had said that the bill is 'misconstruing history' and 'an attempt to define rangatiratanga out of existence. Very dramatic political theatre, complete with some mugging for the audience.

12. MacLellan to Doocey TM 6, MD 4

Dunedin hospital: new buildings are apparently due in 2027 and 2029. Doocey refused to confirm the delivery dates, resulting in a hilariously bland quote:

'This government will build a new hospital in Dunedin.'