Question Time for Thursday 17 February 2022

Questions to Ministers NICOLA WILLIS to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her statement in relation to Government housing policy that "we have to constantly make sure we are reaching those affordability goals for people", and does she agree with the 2022 Salvation Army State of the Nation report that states "the massive increases in renting costs right throughout Aotearoa is confronting. Housing affordability for both first-home buyers and those renting is extremely worrying"? IBRAHIM OMER to the Minister of Housing: What is the Government doing to increase supply of public housing in Wellington? Hon LOUISE UPSTON to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How many more people, if any, received a main benefit for longer than one year in the December 2021 quarter compared to the December 2017 quarter, and what is the impact of any such increase on children in those households? Dr LIZ CRAIG to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: What recent announcements has the Government made on reconnecting New Zealand to the rest of the world? MATT DOOCEY to the Minister of Health: Why did he reject my call to urgently convene a young people's mental health summit in response to early signs of increased mental distress as a result of the pandemic, and what does he say to student Jiya Rana who said in response to my call, "It was actually good to feel acknowledged. It was the first time I felt it had been really addressed in this pandemic and it felt spot on with the conversations I'd been having with my peers."? SHANAN HALBERT to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What announcements has the Government made about supporting Maori into employment, education, and training? MELISSA LEE to the Minister for Broadcasting and Media: Does he accept all the conclusions of the Sapere Report on Media Plurality in New Zealand; if not, why not? GLEN BENNETT to the Minister of Justice: What action has the Government taken to end harmful conversion practices in New Zealand? Hon MARK MITCHELL to the Minister of Police: Does she believe New Zealanders are safer under this Government than they were four years ago; if so, how does she explain the Salvation Army's 2022 State of the Nation report which shows violent crime has increased overall since 2017? DAMIEN SMITH to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What impact, if any, does he believe the recent amendments to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act are having on the ability of New Zealanders to access finance, and is he concerned about the wider impact of the legislation on the New Zealand economy? GREG O'CONNOR to the Minister of Transport: What updates has he seen regarding the Government's clean car package? GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN to the Minister for Trade and Export Growth: Does he agree that New Zealand has a responsibility to help make COVID-19 vaccines accessible to everyone worldwide; if so, what work, if any, has the Government done with its trade partners to progress a TRIPS waiver to support equitable access for developing world nations?