This week in Parliament features a continuation of debate on major health reform, as well as the coming of a new MP and the departure of a high profile MP who has brought the curtain down on his parliamentary career.
After almost 14 years in Parliament, the former Opposition Leader, National’s Simon Bridges, is to give his Valedictory Statement, which is bound to be a colourful affair as the Tauranga MP is one who thrives on taking the floor.
Simon Bridges in the House, watched by Christopher Luxon Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
While Bridges’ seat is to go to a by-election, another recent MP resignation - that of Labour’s Louisa Wall - has opened the way for a new member to come to Parliament. Lemauga Lydia Sosene is no stranger to Parliament, having formerly worked for Parliamentary Services before becoming an elected local representative on the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board.
Sosene is to give her maiden speech in Parliament on Wednesday evening, a little while after Bridges finishes regaling the House with insights from his storied political journey.
But first, today, MPs will speak on the second reading of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill, a set of health reforms, which would disestablish the country's 20 DHBs and consolidate them into a single organisation called Health New Zealand which will work in partnership and a newly established Māori Health Authority. A major health reform project at a time of a pandemic is no small thing, and this legislation is a lightening rod for political showdowns.
Tomorrow, on Member’s Day, is the rare event where three Member’s Bills are each to be debated at their third reading (and from MPs from three different parties). These are National’s Nicola Willis’ Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Bill; the Green’s Ricardo Menendez March’s Human Rights (Disability Assist Dogs Non-Discrimination) Amendment Bill; and Labour’s Tangi Utikere’s Local Government (Pecuniary Interests Register) Amendment Bill.
On Thursday, the Fisheries Amendment Bill will have its first reading, and the New Zealand Bill of Rights (Declarations of Inconsistency) Amendment Bill its second reading.
Earlier that day, MPs are to consider a Motion to approve a Misuse of Drugs order, which updates the list of controlled substances considered to be dangerous: a bunch of tongue twisters like Pyrrolidinovalerophenone which no one can seriously be expected to pronounce properly, but are basically precursor elements to street drugs such as methamphetamine or the misused therapeutic opioid fentanyl.
