12. NICKY WAGNER (National) Link to this
to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
What has the Government done to encourage private philanthropy in the cultural sector?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage) Link to this
Last year the Government established the Cultural Philanthropy Taskforce to investigate new opportunities to encourage private investment in the arts in New Zealand over the next 5 to 10 years. The task force reported back on 2 December. The Government will now analyse and consider its recommendations, before making decisions.
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
To quote the task force itself, the Government has done its bit directly through grants and indirectly through establishing a favourable tax environment for charitable giving that requires very little refinement. Government support can only ever be one part of an overall strategy for the sector. The task force investigated best practice in philanthropy around the world. It consulted within New Zealand with organisations and individuals—
Hon David CunliffeHon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
Could “Mr Caygill” shut up when I am speaking. [ Interruption]
Mr SPEAKERHon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
I am trying to deal with an important matter, and throughout the answer he has just been bellowing like an oaf.
The House will come to order. I guess interjections can get responses, so members who interject do take risks. But I ask the member to please finish his answer without being unnecessarily reactive.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The first transgression that the Minister made was to be aggressively gratuitous, and you pulled him up on that. When my colleague Mr Mallard interjected on you, he withdrew from the Chamber. But once you had given your ruling, the Minister, unable to let the issue go, had to have another little chip as he began his answer, in direct challenge to your ruling. When other members have challenged your ruling today, Mr Speaker, they have not remained with us.
In fairness, I have to say that I think the degree of challenge to the Chair was somewhat greater earlier on. When members interject, Ministers are perfectly at liberty to pick up on their interjections, but I ask the Minister to please just finish his answer without further comment.
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
The task force consulted within New Zealand with a number of organisations, it consulted around the world, and it drew on the extensive expertise of task force members like Dayle Mace and Dame Jenny Gibbs.
Rahui KateneIs the Minister aware of the statement made by Tu Williams and David Robinson that in the broader society Māori today are virtually invisible in philanthropy, in part because the philanthropic sector has failed to market itself as being relevant to them; and what will the Government do to correct this gap?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
No, I am not, but I can understand where that particular person is coming from. That is the very reason why we have this report and why I am keen to get it out there so that people can, in a very positive way, contribute to philanthropy.