Skip to main content

Written questions

Search written questions to Ministers and the replies they have received.

Filters
Asked by All MPs
Minister All Ministers
Portfolio All portfolios
Question published between

Dates refer to when the question was published, and are inclusive.

Clear all filters

Showing 4551 to 4600 of 32204 written question sets.

Answered

Question 35756 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What is the title and date of the New Zealand Transport Agency's current policy on advance purchase and hardship acquisition of property affected by designations, and when was that policy last reviewed?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport

Answer

I am advised that the Advance Purchase Policy for Property Acquisitions was last reviewed in October 2018.

Answered

Question 35757 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • Did the business case for the Te Tupu Ngātahi Supporting Growth North projects, being the package of notices of requirement lodged with Auckland Council in November 2023 for route protection between Albany and Ōrewa, quantify the cost of…

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport

Answer

I am advised that the Te Tupu Ngātahi Supporting Growth North Business Case quantified the estimated costs of property acquisition required to protect the routes identified in the Notices of Requirement lodged with Auckland Council in…

Answered

Question 35758 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What correspondence, if any, including letters, emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages, Signal messages, or any other form of written or electronic communication, has the Minister or any member of the Minister’s office sent or received…

Answered by

Hon Andrew Hoggard

List MP · ACT Party · Associate Minister of Agriculture

Answer

None

Answered

Question 35759 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What briefings, analysis, advice, aide memoires, assessments or any other document, if any, broken down by title and date has the Minister or their office received about the impact of recent remarks made by Winston Peters on the…

Answered by

Hon Nicola Willis

List MP · National Party · Minister of Finance

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 35760 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What communications, if any, has the Minister or any office they are responsible for received from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China since 29 July 2026 by date and title?

Answered by

Hon Paul Goldsmith

List MP · National Party · Minister of Defence

Answer

The previous Minister of Defence received one email from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China since 29 July 2026. It was titled "Letter of Chinese Ambassador regarding the So-called “Excess Capacity” Rhetorical Trap and the “China…

Answered

Question 35761 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • How many properties are wholly or partly subject to a designation or notice of requirement for which the New Zealand Transport Agency is the requiring authority and for which no construction funding is allocated in the current National…

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport

Answer

I refer the Member to the attached document.

Answered

Question 35762 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • How many applications under section 185 of the Resource Management Act 1991, which allows an owner of land subject to a designation or requirement to apply to the Environment Court for an order that the requiring authority acquire that…

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport

Answer

I am advised that the following applications were made in each of the last 10 financial years: • 2017-2022 – No applications made. • 2023 – two applications. Agreement was reached with the owners and the applications were subsequently…

Answered

Question 35763 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What briefings, analysis, advice, aide memoires, assessments or any other document, if any, broken down by title and date has the Minister or their office received about the impact of recent remarks made by Winston Peters on the…

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Associate Minister of Finance

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 35764 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What correspondence, if any, including letters, emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages, Signal messages, or any other form of written or electronic communication, has the Minister or any member of the Minister’s office sent or received…

Answered by

Hon Mark Patterson

List MP · NZ First · Associate Minister of Agriculture

Answer

As Associate Minister of Agriculture, none.

Answered

Question 35765 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • Did the Minister or his officials have any bilateral meetings with the Republic of Naoero during the recent Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting or associated Forum Officials Committee, and if so, what was the outcome?

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

We engaged with all Forum Members through roundtable discussions on the agenda items, but we did not engage bilaterally with the Republic of Naoero.

Answered

Question 35766 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What was the total cost to the New Zealand Transport Agency of Environment Court proceeding ENV-2024-AKL-234, Stanbridge v New Zealand Transport Agency, broken down by internal staff time, external legal fees, expert witness fees, and…

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport

Answer

I am advised that external legal fees were $70,728.40 plus GST. There were no expert witness or valuation fees. NZTA did not keep a record of internal staff time spent on the proceeding.

Answered

Question 35767 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • Did the Minister or his officials have any bilateral meetings with the Republic of Kiribati during the recent Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting or associated Forum Officials Committee, and if so, what was the outcome?

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

We engaged with all Forum Members through roundtables discussions on the agenda items, but we did not engage bilaterally with the Republic of Kiribati.

Answered

Question 35768 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What briefings, analysis, advice, aide memoires, assessments or any other document, if any, broken down by title and date has the Minister or their office received about the impact of recent remarks made by Winston Peters on the…

Answered by

Hon David Seymour

Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Associate Minister of Finance

Answer

None

Answered

Question 35769 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What correspondence, if any, including letters, emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages, Signal messages, or any other form of written or electronic communication, has the Minister or any member of the Minister’s office sent or received…

Answered by

Hon Paul Goldsmith

List MP · National Party · Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage

Answer

None.

Answered

35770, 35771 (2026)

Questions published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

  • 35770

    What was agreed, if anything, on the topic of the joint statement on the submarine launched ballistic missile test by China during the Minister's attendance at the recent Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting?

  • 35771

    What was agreed, if anything, on the topic of reforming the regional security architecture during the Minister's attendance at the recent Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting?

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

Outcomes of the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting are publicly available on the Forum Secretariat's website: https://forumsec.org/publications/outcomes-2026-forum-foreign-ministers-meeting

Answered

Question 35772 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • Was the topic of Forum partnerships discussed in bilateral meetings the Minister or his officials had with counterparts from Palau during the recent Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting or associated Forum Officials Committee…

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

We discussed a range of topics with counterparts from Palau, including topics relating to the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting agenda.

Answered

Question 35773 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What correspondence, if any, including letters, emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages, Signal messages, or any other form of written or electronic communication, has the Minister or any member of the Minister’s office sent or received…

Answered by

Hon Andrew Hoggard

List MP · ACT Party · Minister for Biosecurity

Answer

None

Answered

Question 35774 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • Was the topic of the Pacific Islands Forum joint statement on the submarine launched ballistic missile test by China discussed in bilateral meetings the Minister or his officials had with counterparts from Australia during the recent…

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

We discussed a range of topics with counterparts from Australia, including topics relating to the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting agenda.

Answered

Question 35776 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • Was the topic of regional security governance discussed in bilateral meetings the Minister or his officials had with counterparts from Australia during the recent Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting or associated Forum…

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

We discussed a range of topics with counterparts from Australia, including topics relating to the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting agenda.

Answered

Question 35777 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • What interventions, if any, did the Minister or his officials make during the recent Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting or associated Forum Officials Committee meeting, on the topic of the joint statement on the submarine…

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

We reiterated New Zealand's position that the missile test of 6 July was contrary to the intent and purpose of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone.

Answered

Question 35778 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • What interventions, if any, did the Minister or his officials make during the recent Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting or associated Forum Officials Committee meeting, on the topic of the International Engagement Strategy?

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

Neither I nor Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Officials made an intervention on the International Engagement Strategy.

Answered

Question 35779 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What correspondence, if any, including letters, emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages, Signal messages, or any other form of written or electronic communication, has the Minister or any member of the Minister’s office sent or received…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister for Building and Construction

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 35780 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • What interventions, if any, did the Minister or his officials make during the recent Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting or associated Forum Officials Committee meeting, on the topic of including the Joint Heads of Pacific…

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

We reaffirmed the Forum's role as stewards of our vision for a resiliant Pacific region of peace, security, and prosperity. In keeping with this theme, officials and I spoke to a range of regional security issues and initiatives including…

Answered

Question 35781 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What briefings, analysis, advice, aide memoires, assessments or any other document, if any, broken down by title and date has the Minister or their office received about the impact of recent remarks made by Winston Peters on the…

Answered by

Hon Todd McClay

Member for Rotorua · National Party · Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

In my capacity as Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs neither I nor my office have received any briefing or other advice on the impact of Mr Peters’s remarks on the relationship with China.

Answered

Question 35782 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • How many councils, if any, have deferred or paused infrastructure investment, borrowing or long-term plan decisions because of uncertainty created by the Head Start process, and what assessment, if any, has he made of the cost of that…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I have not been made aware of any councils deferring or pausing infrastructure investment, borrowing or long-term plan decisions. Continuity of delivery of services remains important for councils. Councils are not required to make…

Answered

Question 35783 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • How many letters, emails or formal submissions, if any, has he received from mayors, councillors or councils raising concerns about the Head Start process since 1 May 2026?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I receive a large quantity of correspondence from mayors, councillors and/or councils on a variety of issues. I do not find it in the public interest to manually collate this information.

Answered

Question 35784 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What correspondence, if any, including letters, emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages, Signal messages, or any other form of written or electronic communication, has the Minister or any member of the Minister’s office sent or received…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Child Poverty Reduction

Answer

None

Answered

Question 35785 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What analysis, if any, has been undertaken of the interaction between council amalgamations and the water services entities established under Local Water Done Well, and how many water services delivery plans, if any, will need to be…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

Officials have determined that the Head Start pathway under Simplifying Local Government does not require councils to change their water service delivery models adopted under Local Water Done Well. However, where councils choose to…

Answered

Question 35786 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What briefings, analysis, advice, aide memoires, assessments or any other document, if any, broken down by title and date has the Minister or their office received about the impact of recent remarks made by Winston Peters on the…

Answered by

Hon Todd McClay

Member for Rotorua · National Party · Minister of Forestry

Answer

In my capacity as Minister of Forestry neither I nor my office have received any briefing or other advice on the impact of Mr Peters’s remarks on the relationship with China.

Answered

Question 35787 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What correspondence, if any, including letters, emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages, Signal messages, or any other form of written or electronic communication, has the Minister or any member of the Minister’s office sent or received…

Answered by

Hon Karen Chhour

List MP · ACT Party · Minister for Children

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 35788 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What advice, if any, has he received from the Electoral Commission, the Local Government Commission or Local Government New Zealand on the risk to the conduct of the October 2028 local elections of finalising boundaries and representation…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I have not received advice related to boundary changes, from the Electoral Commission, the Local Government Commission or Local Government New Zealand regarding risk to the conduct of the October 2028 local elections.

Answered

Question 35789 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What legislation, if any, will be required to give effect to council amalgamations, when will it be introduced, will it be referred to a select committee for public submissions, and under what circumstances, if any, does he anticipate it…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

Final Cabinet policy decisions will be made in May 2027 including on the nature of any legislation required to give effect to Head Start proposals. Decisions on the legislative process for Head Start will be made at the appropriate time in…

Answered

Question 35790 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What appeal, review or judicial oversight rights, if any, will a council or its residents have if Cabinet declines its Head Start proposal or imposes a different structure through the Back Stop process?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

There is no appeal or review process for Head Start, as it is a voluntary process intended for councils that are ready to move early. Councils are always able to consider judicial review of the Government’s decisions. Policy decisions…

Answered

Question 35791 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What briefings, analysis, advice, aide memoires, assessments or any other document, if any, broken down by title and date has the Minister or their office received about the impact of recent remarks made by Winston Peters on the…

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration

Answer

None

Answered

Question 35792 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • How many councils, if any, does he expect to have their structure determined through the Back Stop process, and what opportunity, if any, will residents of those districts have to make submissions on the outcome?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Government is still assessing Head Start proposals. I am unable to comment on how many councils will go through backstop until after Cabinet has approved the Head Start proposals that will progress to the detailed design phase.…

Answered

Question 35793 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What correspondence, if any, including letters, emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages, Signal messages, or any other form of written or electronic communication, has the Minister or any member of the Minister’s office sent or received…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Climate Change

Answer

None

Answered

Question 35794 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What criteria, if any, will Cabinet apply when deciding by the end of September 2026 which Head Start proposals progress to detailed design, and will those criteria be published before that decision is made?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Government is currently considering these proposals. I do not intend to provide any additional information beyond what is said in the press release. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-consider-headstart-proposals

Answered

Question 35795 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • How many regional council staff, if any, does he estimate will be required to transfer, be redeployed or be made redundant as regional councils are disestablished, and what workforce transition planning, if any, is under way?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Government is currently considering these proposals. I do not intend to provide any additional information beyond what is said in the press release. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-consider-headstart-proposals

Answered

Question 35796 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What briefings, analysis, advice, aide memoires, assessments or any other document, if any, broken down by title and date has the Minister or their office received about the impact of recent remarks made by Winston Peters on the…

Answered by

Hon Casey Costello

List MP · NZ First Party · Associate Minister of Immigration

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 35797 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What assessment, if any, has been made of the loss of regional-scale capability in flood protection, catchment management, biosecurity and environmental monitoring arising from the abolition of regional councils, and what advice, if any,…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The criteria for submitting a Head Start proposal includes support for the planning system and the continued delivery of regional services including flood protection, catchment management, biosecurity and environmental monitoring. The…

Answered

Question 35798 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What correspondence, if any, including letters, emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages, Signal messages, or any other form of written or electronic communication, has the Minister or any member of the Minister’s office sent or received…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 35799 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • How many Māori wards or Māori constituencies, if any, will be affected by the proposed new unitary authorities, and what guarantee, if any, is there that Māori representation will be maintained?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

There are eight regional Māori constituencies that will be affected by the removal of regional councils at the 2028 local elections. As the Government is still assessing Head Start proposals, it is yet to be determined how many Māori wards…

Answered

Question 35800 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • How many iwi, hapū and post-settlement governance entities, if any, were consulted on Head Start proposals before the 9 August 2026 deadline, and what advice, if any, has he received on whether that engagement discharges the Crown's Treaty…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

It is the Crown’s obligation to ensure that any Treaty settlement obligations are maintained through local government reform. Councils that submitted a Head Start proposal would have made their own decisions about consultation…

Answered

Question 35801 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What assessment, if any, has been made of the effect of amalgamation and the abolition of regional councils on existing Treaty settlement co-governance and co-management arrangements, and how many such arrangements, if any, will require…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I have received advice from the Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport on the broad Treaty settlement impacts of the Simplifying Local Government work programme and Head Start pathway and in the context of planning system…

Answered

Question 35802 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What briefings, analysis, advice, aide memoires, assessments or any other document, if any, broken down by title and date has the Minister or their office received about the impact of recent remarks made by Winston Peters on the…

Answered by

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon

Member for Botany · National Party · Minister for National Security and Intelligence

Answer

I refer the member to my response to Written Parliamentary Question 35806 (2026) provided in my capacity as Prime Minister.

Answered

Question 35803 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What assessment, if any, has been made of the change in the ratio of elected members to residents in each proposed new unitary authority, and in how many cases, if any, will rural or small-district representation be reduced?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

There has been no assessment of the change in the ratio of elected members to residents in each proposed new unitary authority. This is a matter for councils to consider in the Head Start pathway and during the detailed design phase.

Answered

Question 35804 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What correspondence, if any, including letters, emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages, Signal messages, or any other form of written or electronic communication, has the Minister or any member of the Minister’s office sent or received…

Answered by

Hon Tama Potaka

Member for Hamilton West · National Party · Minister of Conservation

Answer

I have not received any such correspondence.

Answered

Question 35805 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What rights, if any, do residents and ratepayers have to petition for or demand a binding poll on an amalgamation affecting their district under the Head Start or Back Stop processes, and how do those rights compare with those available…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

Head Start is a voluntary process for councils that were ready to move. The need for unanimous council support or a high level of community support has been a barrier to local government reorganisation in the past. The Government accepts…

Answered

Question 35806 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • What briefings, analysis, advice, aide memoires, assessments or any other document, if any, broken down by title and date has the Minister or their office received about the impact of recent remarks made by Winston Peters on the…

Answered by

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon

Member for Botany · National Party · Prime Minister

Answer

In my capacity as Prime Minister, I am the responsible minister for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC). I regularly request and receive advice from officials in DPMC relating to my Prime Minister and National Security…

Answered

Question 35807 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What public opinion research, if any, has the Government commissioned on public support for council amalgamation?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Government has not commissioned any opinion research on public support for the Head Start pathway. Consultation on the initial Simplifying Local Government proposal indicated broad support for local government reform.