6. PHIL HEATLEY (National—Whangarei) Link to this
to the Minister of Housing
Where were the Housing New Zealand Corporation conference venues each year between 2000 and 2008, excluding the conferences at the Hotel and Spa du Vin in 2003 and at the luxury Tongariro Lodge earlier this month?
Hon MARYAN STREET (Minister of Housing) Link to this
The Housing New Zealand Corporation has advised me that the property improvement team has held six annual conferences since its formation in 2002. These conferences have been held at either the Millennium Hotel Rotorua and Blue Baths, or the Taupō Huka Village—not Huka Lodge.
Why, under Labour’s watch, have successive housing Ministers allowed conferences to be held at luxury venues year in and year out, given Helen Clark’s 1999 pledge that “Labour will be a very careful custodian of taxpayers’ money—no more squandering public money on luxury resorts.”?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
I have written to the board chairperson, who has replied to me with the following assurance: “There will be no repeat of the use of high-profile venues that fail to reflect the corporation’s commitment to reasonable caution in spending on internal conferencing.”
Did the Minister get advice from the Prime Minister not to defend the Tongariro Lodge conference before Tuesday’s question time or after Tuesday’s question time; if before, why did she ignore that advice?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
I have been the beneficiary of the Prime Minister’s advice before, during, and after.
Did the Minister get advice from the Prime Minister not to defend the Tongariro Lodge conference before Tuesday’s question time—before Tuesday’s question time?
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I actually used up two questions there with a specific question: “Did the Minister get advice … to defend the Tongariro Lodge conference”—to defend it—“before Tuesday’s question time?”. She talked about advice about it—
Madam SPEAKERNo, I am sorry; I listened very carefully, because the member constantly questions whether Ministers respond to questions correctly. I take special notice, and the Minister addressed the question.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Did the advice that the Minister received from the Prime Minister resemble the advice that was given to Kate Wilkinson—say no to compulsion before and during the meeting, and say yes to it after it?
Well, the Minister has no responsibility for the National Party. She can address the question as it relates to housing.
Why should the chief executive be the only person to have her pay docked for running a conference that, only 2 days ago, the Minister was “all for”; and why should she be made a scapegoat for waste that successive housing Ministers have overseen?
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Given that successive housing Ministers have been put at issue here, why did the Prime Minister make that statement back in 1999; and what was the record for the previous 9 years in respect of the competence of the Housing New Zealand Corporation?
No, there is no responsibility for what the Prime Minister does, but there certainly is in terms of the Housing New Zealand Corporation’s previous practice. So the Minister may address that part.
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
I have sought comprehensive information about the Housing New Zealand Corporation’s conference bills. I can say to that member that, as Audrey Young put it in the New Zealand Herald the other day, this conference is “in the shade” compared with Christine Rankin’s price tag of $235,000 for a conference held under the National Party’s watch.
In light of that, why has the chief executive conceded that there has been “a pattern” of inappropriate venues, when Helen Clark’s 1999 pledge card railed against a “culture of waste and extravagance”; or is that pattern and culture alive and well under this Government after 9 years?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
I have sought an assurance from the board chair that there will be no repeat of use of high-profile venues, and I have been given that assurance.
Rodney HideDoes the Minister defend the use of taxpayers’ money for staff on these annual conference trips to take luge rides, riverboat trips, and “luxury” lunches, and, indeed, to have a supply of gambling chips for the casino; if she does not defend it, what has changed since Tuesday?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
I will not condone or defend any inappropriate behaviour by staff. This is a matter for the chief executive to deal with.
I seek leave to table the New Zealand Herald article that reports that Housing New Zealand Corporation staff take a trip to a plush venue every year.
I seek leave to table the quote from the Housing New Zealand Corporation’s chief executive that “A pattern has developed.”
Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is. I ask members to please identify the document first. That would help members work out whether to grant leave.
I seek leave to table a press release from Helen Clark that states that Labour will drive a culture change, and that the State will lead by example.