4. LESLEY SOPER (Labour) Link to this
to the Associate Minister of Health
What recent reports has he received on obesity?
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR (Associate Minister of Health) Link to this
The recent New Zealand Health Survey shows that the increase in the rate of obesity has slowed. After increasing between 1997 and 2002, the rate has remained static. However, one in three adults is still overweight and a further one in four is obese. That is why this Labour-led Government continues to support many programmes to encourage physical activity and proper nutrition at all age levels, and is why we are targeting obesity in the Public Health Bill. That is supported by many groups, from the Cancer Society of New Zealand to Diabetes New Zealand, but, I note, not by the National Party.
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR Link to this
Yes, I have. I have seen a report that states: “Basic attitudes to food have to change before the tide of overweight and obesity will begin to reverse.” Another report states that school students would get “free Coke and Fanta and pies, and all that sort of stuff, you know.” The first quote is from the National Party’s contribution to the inquiry on type 2 diabetes. The second quote is from the National Party Leader of the Opposition, John Key, in August of last year.
Jo GoodhewHow do websites that cost $5.5 million to create and that encourage kids to interact with their computer screen actually get kids outside and running around using up energy; and is that not nanny State gone mad?
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR Link to this
Although that might not be the way that you, Madam Speaker, or I, or Murray McCully, or Gerry Brownlee become inspired to get out and exercise, the reality is that that does inspire young people to get out and become active. I quote from the website the words of one young person, who said: “I learnt how to dance these neat moves. I told my friends about them, and we practice.” The reality is that that website is indeed working. That is in complete contrast to the statement made by the Leader of the Opposition on the radio this morning in making a new policy, one based on slippery stats from slippery Nats, I would have to say. His statement says: “Firstly, the plan is literally to give them money and to measure them on a pretty low, a low, a trust model, if you like—quite a high-trust model—in which we will simply say: ‘Here’s some more money. You can choose to spend it how you like.’ ”. That is the new National Party policy on fighting obesity.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
Would the Minister further see an announcement that performance-enhancing grants for Olympic athletes are to be withdrawn, announced 6 weeks before the Olympics, as something that would be drafted by a group of Australians rather than by people loyal to New Zealand?
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR Link to this
Indeed, that is the kind of unpatriotic behaviour that we have seen from the National Party consistently in every area of policy in Government. It is not that the National members have many policies. The simple facts are that we get consistent slippery stats from slippery Nats, and that is what we will see right through the campaign.