It was a rowdy affair in the House on Tuesday afternoon, with National, ACT and the Greens grilling the Government over the cost of living payment and the decision to partner with TV show Shortland St on the recruitment of nurses.
Ministers - including Willie Jackson, Kelvin Davis and Megan Woods - were pulled up by Speaker Trevor Mallard, while National's David Bennett was kicked out.
It didn't start smoothly, with Mallard jumping in while Jackson was answering a question from Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March on how the rising cost of living is affecting those on the benefit.
The question was directed to the Minister of Social Development Carmel Sepuloni, but she's in Samoa with the Prime Minister. The Speaker wanted to know if Jackson was answering on behalf of the minister or acting as the minister, to which Jackson said he was just answering for Sepuloni.
Jackson couldn't hear the next question from Menéndez March - which was about hardship grants for food increasing - leading National MP Gerry Brownlee to interject. Jackson thanked him and then tried to interpret what he had been asked. Menéndez March was allowed to ask his question again.
But with rumblings coming from MPs in the House, Jackson couldn't hear another question later in the exchange. Mallard turned to the National side and asked Bennett to "turn his volume down". However, not long after, with more interjections coming from the Opposition benches, Mallard stood up and said "Bennett out".
Menéndez March asked Jackson whether "it is kind" for the Government not to give its cost of living payment to individuals living in poverty, because they are eligible for the Winter Energy Payment.
Jackson replied by saying he "respects the question and the member".
"It is not a matter of being kind," Jackson said as he flicked through a large number of pieces of paper.
"This Government has been more kind than any other government in the last generation. As a Government, we have made once-in-generation increases to incomes for those on a benefit. Our changes have led to around 40 percent increase in after housing cost income for those on a main benefit, inflation-adjusted since 2018."
In the face of heckling, Jackson said that "unlike the Opposition" he had worked "with many beneficiaries" and Opposition MPs "wouldn't know a beneficiary if they fell over one".
Mallard then got to his feet and told Jackson it "was a straightforward question".
"It may be that some of the inane interjections deserve a response, but I just want to say to the minister he's not doing much good by chasing the bait," the Speaker said.
Menéndez March's next attempt to ask a question was foiled by another interjection. National wanted to know the basis for which Bennett had been thrown out, with MPs saying it was in fact them who had been noisy.
Following the Green MP, it was National finance spokesperson Nicola Willis' turn to question acting Prime Minister Kelvin Davis. She asked if he stood by all of the Government's statements and actions.
Davis unsurprisingly said he did, pointing to support mechanisms the Government has put in place this year to help New Zealanders in the face of sky-high inflation. That includes cutting Fuel Excise Duty, Road User Charges and public transport fares, while also administering the cost of living payment.
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) confirmed on Tuesday that more than 1.3 million New Zealanders received the initial $116.67 payment on Monday, with more expected to be reached as their tax assessments are finalised. But the scheme has come under criticism after it emerged expat Kiwis and foreigners who previously worked in New Zealand have been getting the money as well.
Willis asked why the Government had previously said it estimated 2.1 million New Zealanders would receive the payment, when only 1.3 million had got it so far. Davis explained Monday was just "day one" of the policy.
Davis said the Government was "not quite sure" how many people offshore had got the payment - which received laughter and applause from the Opposition - but that people in New Zealand who received it had said "thank you very much to a very considerate and caring Government".
In response to a question from ACT's Brooke Van Velden over whether IRD would stop the second and third rounds of the payment going to people offshore, Davis said the "short answer is yes", but the Revenue Minister could provide a more detailed answer later.
Willis continued to prosecute the Government over the issue, while Davis said National's only alternative was to give tax cuts that most benefit those on higher incomes.
"The other thing that I have also found out about the National Party policy…" Davis started saying before Mallard stood up, signalling the acting PM to sit down, and said it was unlikely Davis would ever have responsibility for National policy.
After further exchanges between Willis and Davis, Mallard announced it was time for question number five. He then realised the House was actually only up to the third question.
"I am sorry. I apologise. I apologise to the member. It just feels like it has taken a long time to get here."
Mallard did it again after Labour MP Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki questioned the Minister of Housing, saying it was time for the fifth question. MPs across the House yelled out "four".
"I apologise," the Speaker said. "I am getting… I am still counting laps from that points race. Question number four, Nicola Willis, no, question, question number yeah four Nicola Willis. The fact the member had two questions, that's what's got to me. I just can't count to two today."
Later, van Velden asked Davis about the Government's plan to boost nursing numbers by promoting the profession through Shortland St. The acting Prime Minister said the television show's large audience "was a lot of potential future nurses, health care assistants, and allied health workforce."
There were interjections again from the Opposition. Megan Woods, sitting next to Davis and his active microphone, said "cmon, you know that you watch it Gerry".
Mallard stopped the proceedings to try to referee both sides of the House.
Looking at Woods, he said: "Is the member taking her mask off to withdraw and apologise?"
"I am just trying to work out if the member pleaded guilty to causing that ruckus," he said.
Woods said she did, before apologising.
Mallard then "warned the people who reacted to the Member not to".
"Your reaction was louder than the original crime."
