Oral Questions for 8 October 2025

Questions to Ministers Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? NANCY LU to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Is her economic plan the reason the economy is smaller now than it was when she took office; if not, why not? Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made on the Government's health targets? TAKUTA FERRIS to the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations: Does he agree with the former Minister who introduced the Marine and Coastal Area Act that his proposed amendments "do not restore the original intention of Parliament. They undermine them"; if not, why not? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister of Education: Does teachers, principals, support staff, and Ministry of Education specialist staff all going on strike show that she is "growing and strengthening the education workforce"; if so, how? GREG FLEMING to the Minister of Education: What recent announcement has she made regarding school infrastructure? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What is the estimated reduction, if any, in the number of people receiving jobseeker support because of the proposed parental income test for 18- and 19-year-olds? LAURA McCLURE to the Associate Minister of Education: What recent reports has he seen on school attendance, and why does he think going to school matters to students' futures? STEVE ABEL to the Associate Minister of Agriculture: Does he agree with the SPCA that "the use of farrowing crates causes significant animal welfare problems for both sow and piglets"; if so, why has the Government introduced legislation to extend the use of farrowing crates by at least another decade? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister for Infrastructure: Does he stand by his statement, "we make it too hard to deliver and maintain the infrastructure New Zealand needs"; if so, how is that consistent with a $2.6 billion drop in planned spending on capital commitments by the Government for the 11 months to May 2025?