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Oral Questions - 12 March 2026

Oral Question
Published date: 12 Mar 2026

Questions to Ministers

  1. Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How many more people are receiving the jobseeker support benefit today compared to when the Government took office in 2023?
  2. RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Is she concerned about Treasury's advice that the Iran war energy price shock could increase inflation; if so, what impact, if any, does she expect this will have on the growing number of unemployed people needing welfare support?
  3. TĀKUTA FERRIS to the Minister of Statistics: Does he agree with analysis from Te Kāhui Raraunga that replacing the five-yearly census with administrative data, small-sample surveys, and targeted data collection “will build in a bias that favours numerically dominant groups, and will further invisibilise some Māori individuals, whānau, and communities”?
  4. Hon WILLIE JACKSON to the Minister for Māori Development: Does he stand by the Government's track record for Māori; if so, why?
  5. TOM RUTHERFORD to the Minister of Justice: What progress has the Government made towards fixing the basics in law and order?
  6. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by all of his statements and actions?
  7. Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made about supporting first-year GP trainees?
  8. Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Economic Growth: Do 32,000 fewer people in work compared to two years ago reflect a growing economy; if so, why?
  9. CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister for Trade and Investment: What work is the Government doing to underpin the growth of New Zealand's exports?
  10. Hon JENNY SALESA to the Minister for Pacific Peoples: Is he confident that the lives of Pasifika people in New Zealand have improved under this Government; if not, why not?
  11. Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of the Government's statements and actions?
  12. Dr CARLOS CHEUNG to the Associate Minister of Transport: What recent announcement has he made about coastal shipping?