Question Time for 24 March 2021

Dr DUNCAN WEBB to the Minister of Finance: What reactions has he seen to his announcement yesterday of the Government’s housing package to back first-home buyers?

Hon JUDITH COLLINS to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all of her Government’s statements and actions?

ANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI to the Minister of Housing: What recent announcements has she made about supporting first-home buyers?

Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement that “What we are committed to is making sure that houses are more affordable”; if so, does the Government have a position on what ratio of median house price to median household income would mean we have affordable housing in Aotearoa?

GLEN BENNETT to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What reports has she seen about employment in the construction sector?

ANDREW BAYLY to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by all of his statements and actions?

BROOKE VAN VELDEN to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her statement regarding the Government’s housing policy, that it will “tip the balance in favour of first-home buyers through our demand measures”?

BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Revenue: Why is the Government exempting new builds from changes to the bright-line test and interest deductibility rules?

NICOLA WILLIS to the Minister of Housing: Does she stand by her response to concerns that the First Home Grants and Loans caps are too low, “so for the lower quartile, the fourth quartile of that, that is the median point of houses currently that had been sold in March in 2021”; if so, how many homes at this price point will the Housing Acceleration Fund aim to get built in the next 24 months?

Dr ANAE NERU LEAVASA to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What recent announcements has she made about supporting the COVID-19 response across the Pacific?

Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Research, Science and Innovation: Does she stand by the Government’s research and development policies; if so, does she agree with PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Research and Development National Director that, with the new funding system, “businesses would have no choice but to delay projects, in the worst-case scenario cancelling them altogether, and actually having to get rid of highly-skilled staff … It’s the complete opposite effect of what was intended”?

HELEN WHITE to the Minister of Transport: Is the Government helping to keep New Zealand connected with trade partners and maintaining international passenger services; if so, how?