Question Time for 9 August 2016

METIRIA TUREI to the Minister for Building and Housing: How many years will it take for a median-priced Auckland house to be affordable at three to four times the median Auckland household income, with Auckland house prices growing almost six times faster than wages?

ALFRED NGARO to the Minister of Finance: What is the outlook for economic growth, given elevated business and consumer confidence, rising export values, and higher consumer spending?

ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in the Minister for Building and Housing, given that, after three years in the job and numerous policies that were supposed to make housing more affordable, he now says it’s “probably not a good time for a young family to buy” and they “should be patient”?

JAMI-LEE ROSS to the Minister for Building and Housing: What reports has he received showing construction activity has topped $18.3 billion and that this is the highest rate ever in inflation-adjusted terms?

ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that threats of trade retaliation by China if New Zealand investigates sub-standard Chinese steel imports are “unsubstantiated rumours”, given his Government has been discussing that threat with China since May?

Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements; if so, how?

TODD BARCLAY to the Minister for Communications: What recent announcements has she made on the progress of the Government’s broadband initiatives?

EUGENIE SAGE to the Minister for Primary Industries: Is it acceptable that an estimated 530 dolphins have been killed by fishing trawlers in the last six years on his Government’s watch?

Hon ANNETTE KING to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement that changes to doctors’ fees is “a problem actually that can’t be solved without more money”; if so, why did he not put a Budget bid in as “pushed” to by Treasury?

SARAH DOWIE to the Minister of Education: What reports has she released recently highlighting national and regional educational achievement?

GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: Does he think that the economy is delivering a fair share to working New Zealanders when the latest Labour Cost Index shows wage growth is at a six-year low?

MAUREEN PUGH to the Minister of Conservation: What recent announcements has she made about making New Zealand predator-free by 2050?