Source: New Zealand Parliament – Hansard
TUESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2022
(continued on Thursday, 24 November 2022)
RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES (HEALTHY HOMES STANDARDS) AMENDMENT BILL
Third Reading
Debate resumed.
ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): The House is resumed. Good morning, everyone. When we finished last night, and I left the Chair, we were considering the third reading of the Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Amendment Bill. I’m advised the next speaker is a National call.
SIMON O’CONNOR (National—Tāmaki): Thank you very much—a good chance to stretch one’s legs. It’s always good to be out in front of ACT, but no offence to my ACT colleagues.
We continue to support this bill—we continue to support this bill at third reading. I think the main caveat or aspect we wanted to note is that when this legislation first went through the House before we had to amend it, we noted at the time that the time frames for both Kāinga Ora and the private sector were out of whack, the fact that Kāinga Ora was given more time than the private sector. And the other aspect too was we knew it would not be enough, the high standards which the Government were intent on pressing upon the industry. So we sort of feel a little bit vindicated, for want of a better word.
Hon Gerry Brownlee: It is a good word.
SIMON O’CONNOR: But, as we say, we are happy. It is a good word for 9 o’clock in the morning—”vindicated”. I won’t give you the etymology; it’s just far too early. But we are happy to support this bill to the House.