Kelvin Davis, as first assistant deputy prime minister, was in the hot seat during Question Time on Wednesday. Bridges asked him some questions.
Hon Simon Bridges: Is he concerned that more New Zealanders think the economy will be in a worse state in the next year than think it will be in a better state; and does he think that the Government’s policies have played a role in the growing level of economic pessimism?
It is not at all clear which of those two questions Davis answered with “No.”
So Bridges asked
Does he agree with Grant Robertson, who said declining business confidence is “a vote of no confidence in the Government by the business sector”?
Hon KELVIN DAVIS: At the time that Mr Robertson said that, he was actually talking about the National Government.
Hon Simon Bridges: Is it still true?
Hon KELVIN DAVIS: No.
Hon Simon Bridges: So is it a case that the Government thinks a vote of no confidence in the Government by the business sector is true when there’s declining business confidence under National, but not under Labour?
Oops, never saw that one coming so we were treated to a pile of waffle throwing random statistics around, rather than answer the question.
In amongst the verbiage was this pearl
The Consumers Price Index (CPI) shows the economy growing strongly compared to the rest of the world.
Ardern does not understand GDP, Davis does not understand CPI.
Hon Simon Bridges: To quote the Prime Minister, how does CPI show the economy growing strongly?
Hon KELVIN DAVIS: It’s about everything that I’ve just outlined. It’s showing that the economy is growing, and this is the thing: they don’t like to admit that this country is actually going ahead under us when it went backwards under them.
Hon Simon Bridges: What is the CPI—
Bridges was interrupted and never got back to the point, which was a pity as we would all like to hear Davis’ explanation of why the consumer price index which measures changes in the price level of market basket of consumer goods and services purchased by households shows an economy is growing. (An exercise for Kelvin for homework. Perhaps he could use the CPI growth in Venezuela as the basis for his answer?)
So Bridges tried again.
Does he agree with Grant Robertson, who said declining business confidence is “a vote of no confidence in the government by the business sector”?
More irrelevant verbiage followed. So Bridges moved on to Ihumatao:
Hon Simon Bridges: Does he agree with Grant Robertson, who said, “kicking off a house-building programme like KiwiBuild would give business more confidence in the future”; and, if so, when are they going to start building houses?
Hon KELVIN DAVIS: We have started building houses. In fact, we’ve got the biggest house-building programme since the 1970s—more than they ever did.
Hon Simon Bridges: Should the Government ensure houses are built at Ihumatao?
Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Ihumatao is a very complex and fluid situation. We’re very mindful of making sure that we don’t undermine business decisions. We’ve got to make sure that we don’t undermine private property rights, we’ve got to make sure we don’t undermine settlements that have already occurred, and we’ve got to make sure that we don’t undermine settlements that are yet to occur.
Hon Simon Bridges: Is it true that the Government’s involvement in Ihumatao has stopped more houses being built than his Government’s delivered so far under KiwiBuild?
Hon KELVIN DAVIS: No.
Hansard
Well, sorry, Kelvin. At the moment that is a resounding, “Yes.” The Captain made a call.