6. Hon RUTH DYSON (Labour—Port Hills) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What was the process she followed when appointing Christine Rankin as a Families Commissioner?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
The process included, but was not limited to, calling for expressions of interest, pre-appointment document checks, and submitting papers to the appointments and honours committee. It went to Cabinet, it went to caucus, pre-appointment checks were completed, and the appointment document was sent—just as it was for Bruce Pilbrow.
Did Christine Rankin discuss her Investigate interview with the Chief Families Commissioner, Jan Pryor, as she was clearly instructed to in the Minister’s letter to her outlining a no-surprises clause; if she did, was it done at the earliest opportunity or was Jan Pryor unpleasantly surprised?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
It is my understanding that she discussed the interview with the Chief Families Commissioner prior to giving it.
What would actively campaigning on section 59 look like to the Minister: would it look like a 4-page spread in a magazine campaigning against the law, or would it look more like being a trustee of an organisation that advocates views on section 59 that directly contradict the views of the Government?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
I looked up the definition of “campaigning” and it says “a vigorous, concerted effort to accomplish a purpose”. I suppose my own interpretation would be that I do not expect her to be holding a megaphone.
Hekia ParataTēnā koe, Mr Speaker. What are the important issues facing New Zealand families that the Government would like the Families Commission to focus on?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Let us start with what they are not: reports that parents working long hours report feeling tired and stressed, or research I have seen that shows that children value their relationship with their grandparents, or—a particular favourite that some colleagues might listen to—research that shows that men are less likely than women to talk about their relationship problems. These were commissioned by the previous Chief Families Commissioner, who now sits on the Opposition benches, and I do not think they add much value to New Zealand families.
Does the Minister believe the comments reported in the New Zealand Herald yesterday by the Family and Children Trust spokeswoman, Bev Adair, that one, Ms Rankin was the trust’s chief executive, and, two, she would definitely take part in the section 59 referendum campaign; if the comments are accurate, would that constitute a conflict of interest, and has the Minister determined whether they are accurate?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
The Opposition’s obsession with Ms Rankin’s appointment is curious, to say the least. Let us be quite clear: her involvement with the Family and Children Trust was included in the press release we put out announcing her appointment to the job. So there are no secrets and no surprises about her attachment to that particular trust.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question had a specific point, which was whether the comments alluded to in the New Zealand Herald would constitute a conflict of interest, if they were accurate, and whether the Minister had determined that they were accurate. That question was not addressed.
Mr SPEAKERThe question did specifically relate to comments made in the New Zealand Herald. I invite the Hon Paula Bennett to respond to that.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
I think the Prime Minister and I have been very clear on what we expect of Ms Rankin as far as her appointment is concerned. We have made that clear. I am not going to make comments about someone else’s comments in the newspaper, or be responsible for them.