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 6351 to 6400 of 31958 written question sets.

Answered

Question 33831 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ginny Andersen

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to reply 30727 (2026), at which WelTec campus was the discontinued Kāinga Ora trades training partnership based?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities advises me that, historically, both Porirua Whitireia and Petone campuses have been involved in the partnership, but details of the campus at which the WelTec trades training programme was based should be…

Answered

Question 33833 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Lawrence Xu-Nan

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has any review into the Student Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Tool (SMART) data breach discovered any additional affected accounts, users, schools or students beyond those publicly reported?

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

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

Answer

I am advised that no additional affected accounts have been identified.

Answered

Question 33834 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Lawrence Xu-Nan

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How, if at all, were the SMART (Student Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Tool) audit logs used to determine that the data breach incident involved 276 students across seven schools?

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

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

Answer

I am advised by the Ministry of Education that it is not in the public interest for this information to be released. Doing so could compromise the security and integrity of the Student Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Tool system and…

Answered

Question 33835 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Lawrence Xu-Nan

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    On what date and by what means, if any, was the Ministry first made aware of the “unexpected access”, and was it first alerted by a person or school rather than by the SMART (Student Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Tool) automated…

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

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

Answer

The Ministry of Education has advised that, on 15 July 2026, a Ministry staff member received information from a school staff member during a routine school visit. Following this, a formal investigation commenced on 16 July 2026, and the…

Answered

Question 33836 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Lawrence Xu-Nan

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did the SMART (Student Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Tool) automatically generate an alert when the affected trial login credentials accessed live student records; if not, why was access by trial credentials to live student records…

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

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

Answer

I am advised by the Ministry of Education that no alert was generated as the access came from legitimate users with authorised accounts which had previously been allocated trial access.

Answered

Question 33837 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Why is she directing the Ministry of Education to provide funding for schools to "solve the problem" of rural school buses in the Manawatu, when she has previously said that this is an operational matter she cannot get involved in?

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

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

Answer

I have been advised by the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) that Palmerston North Boys’ High School (PNBHS) recently trialled a private, user-pays bus service for students from Shannon and nearby areas who are not eligible for…

Answered

Question 33838 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ginny Andersen

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What number of reports, if any, has New Zealand Police had related to petrol or diesel thefts from a retail premises since May 2026 to date, broken down by month, by each police district?

Answered by

Hon Mark Mitchell

Member for Whangaparāoa · National Party · Minister of Police

Answer

I am advised that Police does not have a specific offence code for petrol or diesel thefts from a retail premises (often known as drive offs) and therefore measures these offences by counting theft offences under $500 recorded at service…

Answered

Question 33840 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What recommendations were made by the independent review of the Biometric Capability Upgrade (BCU) project, and which recommendations have been implemented?

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

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

Answer

The independent Review of the Biometric Projects undertaken by Greg James made a number of findings regarding the Biometric Capability Update (BCU) Project. These are outlined in the review which can be found here:…

Answered

Question 33841 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did negotiations with NEC New Zealand Ltd. result in any agreement regarding the recovery, allocation, or payment of sunk costs; if so, what was agreed?

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

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

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment reached an agreement with NEC New Zealand on 15 June 2026. Details of any payments are confidential and commercially sensitive.

Answered

Question 33842 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What decisions, if any, were made following the meeting with Richard Griffiths regarding next steps arising from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment’s termination notice, prior to NEC New Zealand Ltd. providing its formal…

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

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

Answer

I am advised that no decisions were made by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment following this meeting as negotiations were being undertaken.

Answered

Question 33843 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did NEC New Zealand Ltd. provide a formal written response to the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) following discussions regarding the termination of the Biometric Capability Upgrade (BCU) project; if so, on what…

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

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

Answer

I am advised that NEC New Zealand Ltd. provided a formal written response to the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment on 19 January 2026.

Answered

Question 33844 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ingrid Leary

Member for Taieri · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Why were patients left in Wakari Hospital Ward 10A, for months, after officials knew about restrictive practices and serious concerns?

Answered by

Hon Matt Doocey

Member for Waimakariri · National Party · Minister for Mental Health

Answer

I am advised that patients remained in Wakari Hospital Ward 10A because Health New Zealand considered it the best available place for those patients while alternative arrangements were made. These patients have highly complex forensic…

Answered

Question 33845 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much did the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) pay, or expect to pay, in stranded costs arising from the termination of the Biometric Capability Upgrade (BCU) project?

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

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

Answer

I am advised by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment that there are approximately $100,000 of stranded costs following the termination of the Biometric Capability Upgrade project. This will be tested as part of the reviews…

Answered

Question 33846 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ingrid Leary

Member for Taieri · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What date were ministers first told about issues in Wakari Hospital Ward 10A, and what specific immediate action did they take, if any?

Answered by

Hon Matt Doocey

Member for Waimakariri · National Party · Minister for Mental Health

Answer

My office was first advised of issues in Wakari Hospital Ward 10A on 15 April 2026, and subsequently through the Health New Zealand Mental Health Weekly Report. Since 15 April 2026 I have had multiple discussions with officials and sought…

Answered

32042, 33666 (2026)

Questions published
See individual question dates
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Chris Hipkins

Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

Questions

  • 32042 (matches this search)

    Question published

    When, if at all, did he or his office approve booking for the ground transportation for his Toronto trip in March 2025?

  • 33666 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Further to the reply to written question 32114 (2026) from the Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services: was this invoice approved by Hon Shane Jones’ office, if not, then who approved it?

Answered by

Hon Shane Jones

List MP · NZ First · Minister for Resources

Answer

Following the conclusion of the trip.

Answered

33604, 33662 (2026)

Questions published
See individual question dates
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Questions

  • Asked by

    Vanushi Walters

    List MP · Labour Party

    33604 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Why did New Zealand abstain, rather than vote in favour or against, on the United Nations General Assembly vote on 24 July 2026 to reappoint Volker Türk as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights?

  • Asked by

    Teanau Tuiono

    List MP · Green Party

    33662 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Why did New Zealand abstain on a vote to reappoint Volker Türk as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights?

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

A decision was taken by officials to abstain because, once debate of the relevant resolution was underway at the UN General Assembly in New York, additional information emerged which had not been apparent at the time that voting…

Answered

Question 33626 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if anything, did Kāinga Ora pay for refurbishment of offices at its Carlton Gore, Newmarket, Auckland offices since 1 June 2025?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities advises me that there has been no refurbishment of its office space at 107 Carton Gore Road since 1 June 2025.

Answered

Question 33627 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What services or products, if any, is Impact Lab Limited currently providing to housing officials at the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

I am advised that no services or products are currently being provided by Impact Lab Limited to housing officials at the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport.

Answered

Question 33628 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many contracts, if any, did the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development sign with Impact Lab Limited between 1 June 2024 and 1 July 2026 and for each, when was it signed, what services or products were provided and what was the…

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development signed no contracts with Impact Lab Limited between 1 June 2024 and 1 July 2026.

Answered

Question 33629 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if anything, did Kāinga Ora pay for new audio-visual and conferencing equipment for its Carlton Gore, Newmarket, Auckland offices since 1 June 2025 and for each item valued at over $1500, if any, what was it and what was its…

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities advises me that there was no new audio-visual or conferencing equipment procured for the Carlton Gore, Newmarket or Auckland offices since 1 June 2025.

Answered

Question 33630 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if anything, did Kāinga Ora pay for new appliances for its Carlton Gore, Newmarket, Auckland offices since 1 June 2025 and for each item valued at over $1500, if any, what was it and what was its value?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities advises me that it has spent $1,743 to purchase a dishwasher at 107 Carlton Gore Road since 1 June 2025.

Answered

Question 33631 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has Kāinga Ora disposed of any surplus furniture since 1 June 2024 and if so, what was the value of that furniture?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities advises me that it does not record information at this level of detail. Kāinga Ora generally either re-use, store for future use, or offer surplus furniture to community groups, but unfortunately Kāinga…

Answered

Question 33632 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has Kāinga Ora sold any surplus furniture since 1 June 2024 and if so, what was the value of that furniture?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities advises me that it has not sold any surplus furniture since 1 June 2024.

Answered

Question 33633 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if anything, has Kainga Ora spent on new audio-visual and conferencing equipment since 1 June 2024?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities advises me that since 1 June 2024 it has spent $143,166 on new audio-visual and conference equipment.

Answered

Question 33634 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if anything, has Kainga Ora spent on new appliances since 1 June 2024?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities advises me that it has spent $55,745 on new appliances since 1 June 2024.

Answered

Question 33635 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if anything, has Kāinga Ora spent on new furniture for its offices since 1 June 2024?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities advises me that it has spent $336,109 on new furniture from 1 June 2024.

Answered

Question 33636 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if anything, has Kāinga Ora spent on new office fixtures and fittings for its offices since 1 June 2024?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities advises me that it has spent $1,463,605 on new office fixtures and fittings since 1 June 2024.

Answered

Question 33637 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if anything, has Kāinga Ora incurred for moving and relocation costs associated with the downsizing its offices since 1 June 2024?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities advises me that it has spent $286,615 on moving and relocation costs associated with downsizing its offices since 1 June 2024.

Answered

Question 33638 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What Kāinga Ora offices, if any, have reduced their floorspace since 1 June 2024 and for each such office, what was the floorspace before and after it was downsized and how much, if anything, was paid for any costs or penalties incurred as…

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kaniga Ora – Homes and Communities advises me that as at 1 June 2024 it had leased a total of 39,279m2 of office space. Kāinga Ora currently occupy 33,173m2 of office space, with a total reduction of space being 6,106m2 since June 2024. A…

Answered

Question 33639 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if anything, has Kāinga Ora spent on downsizing its office space since 1 June 2024?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities advises me that it has interpreted this question to be “How much, if anything, have Kāinga Ora spent on downsizing its office space since 1 June 2024.” I refer the Member to my reply to WPQ 33637 and WPQ…

Answered

Question 33640 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, has Impact Lab Limited provided to Kāinga Ora to help inform any investment or funding decisions?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities informs me that it has not used Impact Lab Limited to help inform any funding or investment decisions.

Answered

Question 33641 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Have Kāinga Ora’s homes and services been assessed by Impact Lab Limited through its GoodMeasure Homes product and if so, what estimates of the long-term impact of its housing model have been determined?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities informs me that it has not used Impact Lab Limited’s GoodMeasure Homes product to assess homes and services.

Answered

Question 33642 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Following Reply 31923 (2026), does the conflict of interest noted, in relation to the Kānoa investment in the Tukituki Water Security Project, relate to a staff member from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment?

Answered by

Hon Shane Jones

List MP · NZ First · Minister for Regional Development

Answer

I refer the Member to reply 31924 (2026)

Answered

Question 33643 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, was provided to Ministers regarding options to continue, pause, or terminate the BCU project?

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

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

Answer

The below covers specific advice that I received as Minister of Immigration. Questions regarding advice to other Ministers should be directed to those Ministers. On 19 March 2024, I received a written briefing from MBIE titled Biometric…

Answered

Question 33644 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    On what date was the independent review of the BCU project commissioned, and what was the total cost of that review?

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

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

Answer

I am advised that the Terms of Reference for the independent review was signed off by MBIE’s acting Chief Executive on 14 December 2025. The reviewer signed their agreement to commence the review on 23 December 2025. I am advised the total…

Answered

Question 33645 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, has he received regarding the attractiveness of investing in New Zealand based data centres?

Answered by

Hon Todd McClay

Member for Rotorua · National Party · Minister for Trade and Investment

Answer

As Minister for Trade and Investment, I have received advice on external investment opportunities for data centres to be based in New Zealand. This information is not held in a format that can be easily extracted within the timeframe.

Answered

Question 33646 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Will the government prioritise developing “sensible rules” for data centres regarding electricity generation and grid stability so that investors have certainty before investing in New Zealand data centres, and if so, by when does the…

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister for Energy

Answer

I understand that the government is considering whether any additional interventions are needed to ensure that the impacts of data centres on the electricity system are appropriately managed. No decisions have been made on additional…

Answered

Question 33648 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Do officials expect the Datagrid data centre in Southland to put upward pressure on electricity prices, if so, by how much?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister for Energy

Answer

I am advised that current projections of data centre demand growth are not expected to put significant upward pressure on electricity prices over the next three years.

Answered

Question 33649 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Do officials expect any other data centres, besides the "maybe three" he referred to, to put upward pressure on electricity prices, if so, by how much?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister for Energy

Answer

I am advised that current projections of data centre demand growth are not expected to put significant upward pressure on electricity prices over the next three years.

Answered

Question 33650 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Why do officials not expect any of the “maybe three data centres” to put upward pressure on electricity prices?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister for Energy

Answer

I am advised that data centres due to come online during 2026/27 are not expected to have a significant impact on electricity prices because projected growth in demand is expected to be accommodated within the current generation pipeline.…

Answered

Question 33651 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, has he received to indicate that there will not be a significant impact on electricity prices from data centres?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister for Energy

Answer

I am advised that current projections of data centre demand growth are not expected to put significant upward pressure on electricity prices over the next three years. This reflects, in part, the Government's actions to address dry-year…

Answered

Question 33652 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What oversight, if any, do government agencies have over the pipeline of data centres being established in New Zealand?

Answered by

Hon Nicola Willis

List MP · National Party · Minister for Economic Growth

Answer

Proposed new data centres require land use resource consent through local and regional councils under the Resource Management Act planning rules. This process considers land use and environmental effects. With respect to electricity use,…

Answered

Question 33653 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What are the three data centres that he said are due to ‘come on stream’ in the next 12 months?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister for Energy

Answer

I am advised that a small number of data centre projects are expected to become operational over the next 12 months. Information on data centres engaging with the national grid owner, Transpower, about connecting to its transmission…

Answered

Question 33654 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How does he intend to have “good conversations about use of water”, and will the public have the opportunity to be part of those conversations?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister responsible for RMA Reform

Answer

The Government is in the process of reforming the resource management system and, as part of that, replacing national direction on freshwater management. We have previously consulted on a range of options to better reflect the interests of…

Answered

Question 33655 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How will the government ensure, if at all, that data centres “bring additionality to our energy system and electricity system”?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister for Energy

Answer

I am advised that the government is considering whether to set expectations, or new guardrails, to ensure the potential impacts of data centres on the electricity system are appropriately managed. These could include ensuring datacentres…

Answered

33656, 33657, 33659 (2026)

Questions published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Questions

  • 33656 (matches this search)

    Will the “AI strategy" that his Government is “looking at” include regulations for water and energy use, if not, why not?

  • 33657 (matches this search)

    What is the intended scope, if any, for the “AI strategy” his government is “looking at”?

  • 33659 (matches this search)

    What decisions, if any, has the government made on developing an “AI strategy”?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

In July 2025, New Zealand launched its first AI Strategy, alongside the Responsible AI Guidance for Business, establishing a national framework for the responsible and confident adoption of AI. The Strategy defines the Government’s role as…

Answered

Question 33658 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Which agency, if any, will be tasked with developing an “AI strategy”?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is the lead agency for New Zealand’s Strategy for Artificial Intelligence: Investing with confidence.

Answered

Question 33660 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What made the vote to reappoint Volker Turk as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights a ‘procedural matter’ for New Zealand?

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

The Secretary General's proposal to reappoint Volker Turk as High Commissioner for Human Rights was undertaken under the procedure set out in the relevant General Assembly resolution; that is, the High Commissioner for Human Rights is…

Answered

Question 33661 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade have the authority to make decisions on United Nations votes without consulting the Minister, if so, in what circumstances?

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

Yes. The United Nations General Assembly votes on hundreds of matters every year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade generally makes decisions when they are procedural in nature or consistent with policy settings.

Answered

Question 33663 (2026)

Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Teanau Tuiono

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How did New Zealand vote on the decision to remove Karim Khan as the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court?

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

The Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the International Criminal Court (ICC) recommended the ASP decide to remove the ICC Prosecutor, Mr Karim Khan, for serious misconduct and breach of duty. New Zealand is a member of the…