9. SHANE ARDERN (National—Taranaki - King Country) Link to this
to the Minister of Civil Defence
What is happening over Get Ready Week?
Hon JOHN CARTER
Hon Annette KingIt is a real shame, given the events in Christchurch, that the Opposition cannot take this seriously.
Mr SPEAKERMembers interject, and if they interject they are likely to get a response. But let us get on with answering the question.
Did Chris Hipkins not hear what I just said? I ask for a bit of common sense and common courtesy, please.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. If you are to name members on this side of the House for interjecting before the Minister has started, can you do that for the member who interjected just then from the Government side?
Forgive me; I can only react to what I see and hear. Sadly for the member’s colleague, I happened to see him making a very loud interjection. I did not hear or see the other one. I apologise for that, but I cannot deal with what I do not see or hear.
For Get Ready Week, there will be an increase in radio and television advertisements, the film Eruption made its debut last night, and, very important, civil defence volunteers will be recognised. For example, long-service civilian civil defence volunteers in Manukau will be presented with awards. It is important that New Zealanders are ready to get through.
Firstly, I would like to congratulate all the mayors who have been elected or re-elected, especially Bob Parker, who has done so much and a wonderful job in assisting earthquake recovery, along with Kelvin Coe. I also thank Ron Keating for his work. Emergencies will happen in our communities, and we will all want our communities to be as resilient as they can be. We do that through the four Rs of reduction, readiness, response, and recovery. The importance of focusing on this cannot be underestimated. Mayors have a critical role to play in providing leadership and advocacy for their community in difficult times, working with their local civil defence management controller, and preparing their communities for emergencies that we know will happen sooner or later.