1 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: Kielda. I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, 2 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:17,319 Speaker 1: a daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. This 3 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: Mattariki is the third time the annual celebration has been 4 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: an official public holiday. But while this holiday is safe, 5 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: the future of other public holidays and annually in general 6 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:34,279 Speaker 1: currently sits with Workplace Relations Minister Brook van Velden. Van 7 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,279 Speaker 1: Velden is currently seeking feedback on suggested changes to the 8 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: Holidays Act, with a draft proposal due in September, but 9 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 1: employee advocates are already sounding the alarm on what the 10 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: refresh could mean for some workers. To discuss these changes 11 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,279 Speaker 1: with us as well as her thoughts on public holidays, 12 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: we're joined now by Minister Brook van Velden, now Minister 13 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: the Government's seeking fee feedback from businesses on changes to 14 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: the Holidays Act. You're set to release a draft in September. 15 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 1: How are things tracking with that? 16 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, things are looking really really good. One of my 17 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 2: top priorities is that we need legislative change in this 18 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 2: term of government. I understand many successive Ministers of Workplace 19 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 2: Relations have tried and failed to get a Holidays Act 20 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 2: change across the line and I'd love to make it 21 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 2: easier for businesses and workers to pay out the right 22 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 2: entitlements and for those workers to know that they are 23 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 2: getting paid the right amounts. So that's top priority for me. 24 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 2: We're on track to get this out in September, and 25 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 2: it'll be targeted consultation because it's a very technical law. 26 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 2: But I very much look forward to all of the 27 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 2: feedback that comes back to let us know if we're 28 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 2: on the right track to make it simpler. The last 29 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 2: thing I want is a new law change that's even 30 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 2: more complex. 31 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: It is kind of one that would be difficult to 32 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: explain to someone on the street right because it's a 33 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: lot of backroom situation in terms of payroll and things 34 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: like that that perhaps employees don't exactly. 35 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 2: See totally absolutely look for most people, they'll assume that 36 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 2: their business or their manager is getting it right. They 37 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: might get their pay slip every fortnight or every month, 38 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 2: and it tells them how much they're earning that week, 39 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 2: how much they may have in holidays pay coming up, 40 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 2: or you know, what their sick leaving titlements might still be. 41 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 2: By and large, most people are doing a very good job. 42 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 2: But because the law is so complicated and so complex 43 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 2: even some of our largest organizations have been getting it wrong. 44 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 2: You take, for example, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. 45 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 2: You know they even got holidays pay wrong. Now, if 46 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 2: the law is so complex that even the government department 47 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 2: that's supposed to look after this law is getting it wrong, 48 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 2: there's serious work that needs to be done, because at 49 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 2: the heart of this, I want all workers to know 50 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 2: they're going home at the end of the week with 51 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,239 Speaker 2: the right pay, with the right holidays pay, with the 52 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 2: right sick leave, and that businesses have far more time 53 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 2: to actually do what they do well, which is their 54 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 2: real job, not figuring out compliance. 55 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 1: In terms of the Holiday Act. I guess employees know 56 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: what they can see. They can see how much sickleave 57 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 1: they can get. The current rules I believe is everyone's 58 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,959 Speaker 1: entitled to ten days sickly for a year if they've 59 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: worked with their employer for six months and have worked 60 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,639 Speaker 1: an average of ten hours a week. So you're proposing 61 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: actually making sick leave entitlements proportional to the hours someone 62 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: works at something dubbed I believe pro rating sickly. Why 63 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: should this be the case? 64 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 2: Do you think, well, this is one of the areas 65 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 2: that we've had really strong feedback on, where because the 66 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 2: last government increased paid sickly from five days to ten days, 67 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 2: some small businesses have been really struggling with this. But 68 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 2: also there's a question of fairness where if you've got 69 00:03:55,680 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 2: a worker, for example, who has two part time jobs, 70 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 2: they under the law, could be entitled to twenty days 71 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 2: sick leave. And I know this is not a case 72 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 2: that happens every single day, but there are a lot 73 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: of small businesses that have a lot of part time 74 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 2: staff members, and so for every single one of these 75 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 2: part time staff members, they need to be liable for 76 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 2: ten days sickly for each one, even if they might 77 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 2: only be working, you know, two days a week. And 78 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 2: so we're opening up that question of is it fair 79 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 2: Is it proportionate that somebody who works part time is 80 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 2: still entitled to the same leave as someone who works 81 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 2: five days a week for forty hours. That's what I'm 82 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 2: really interested in getting some feedback on. 83 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 3: Just because you're a part time worker doesn't mean you 84 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 3: get crook part time. If you're working twenty hours and 85 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 3: you claim a sick day, you only get paid for 86 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,479 Speaker 3: that half day that you were going to work. It's 87 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 3: not like the employer has to pay for the full day, 88 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 3: So in that respect, from an hour's perspective, already relevant 89 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 3: to how much you work. 90 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: Is there a chance that full time workers also will 91 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: be brought into this and that ten will be reduced 92 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: to five for everyone. 93 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:18,360 Speaker 2: No, that's not part of my current assessment. But look, 94 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 2: everything is on the table when it comes to the 95 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 2: Holidays Act. So we'll be putting up the exposure draft, 96 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 2: and what I want to make really clear is that 97 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: doesn't mean that that's what will end up being finalized. 98 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 2: What it means is that we're looking for firstly technical 99 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 2: feedback on whether or not it's something that can be 100 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 2: implemented by payroll providers and for business, but secondly whether 101 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 2: or not it actually makes it simpler for business, or 102 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 2: whether we could go further to make it simpler. But 103 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 2: at this stage, I'm not opening the conversation on reducing 104 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 2: those ten days down. 105 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 1: So I understand the pro writer's sek leave and it's 106 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 1: proportional to the hour someone works, But advocates say or 107 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: are asking, are you actually stealing sick days away from 108 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: the most disadvantaged people? 109 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 2: Brook No, I completely disagree with that. Look when I've 110 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 2: been talking to businesses, they've said, on the whole, they 111 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,479 Speaker 2: actually want their staff to be well. They want people 112 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 2: to be looked after, they want people to turn up 113 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 2: to work, and it's an everyone's best interest that you 114 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 2: have a really good working relationship with your staff. You know, 115 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 2: if you ask somebody who does suffer from a particular 116 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 2: illness and you need more time off, I would highly 117 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 2: encourage people to talk with their manager, because managers that 118 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 2: I talk to actually want to do the best thing 119 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 2: for their employees. And if you've got, for example, a 120 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 2: particular family member that you need to care for, I 121 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: think it's an everyone's best interest that people are open 122 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 2: and upfront about these things so that they can have 123 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 2: that flexibility in the business. Because even chatter around water 124 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 2: coolers or lunch rooms that I know about, where people say, oh, well, 125 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 2: isn't it always annoying that person's always going home early? 126 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,280 Speaker 2: Or ah, that person, you know, it seems to always 127 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 2: be taking a sick day. If people actually know, you know, 128 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 2: that person's caring for someone who might have a disability, 129 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 2: and the boss already knows this, I think people would 130 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 2: actually have a lot of compassion. But sick days are 131 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 2: there for sick days. 132 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: While we're talking about Leave and the Holidays Act, we're 133 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: recording this for Matadiki. Of course, David Seymour once said 134 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: that public holidays were an example of a fascist state 135 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: and that we should scrap all but two of the holidays. 136 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 4: You know, people don't want to celebrate Christmas. They don't 137 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 4: have to. No, I don't think the government needs to 138 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 4: tell people when to have a holiday and when to 139 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 4: celebrate things. I certainly don't think that we should be 140 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 4: rushing to introduce new public holidays, such as Martin Diqui. 141 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 4: We live in a society of people who can make 142 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 4: their own choices. 143 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: Obviously softened last year to removing the January second public holiday. 144 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: Does Act still want to see that gone or any 145 00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: other changes to public holidays this year? 146 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 2: I guess you're right that it is an Act party 147 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 2: policy to remove a public holiday. However, in this capacity 148 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 2: I am a government minister, and when we have three 149 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 2: parties in coalition together, not all three parties will end 150 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 2: up with everything that they campaigned on or everything that 151 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: they believe in. That's pretty much the nature of government. 152 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 2: That we form compromise and we have a clear path 153 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 2: forward in this coalition government, there is no plans to 154 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 2: take back public holidays, so I really actually hope that 155 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 2: everybody is able to have some good time with their 156 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 2: family on Maturiqui. Or if you're one of these people 157 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 2: who might be able to have a few dollars rattling 158 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 2: around to go out and spend time with their family, 159 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 2: please do it in like a local cafe or go 160 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 2: out to your local shops, because I know that there 161 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 2: are some small businesses who are actually really struggling. I 162 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 2: know families are struggling, but our small businesses have been 163 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 2: struggling too, and it would be great if people are 164 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 2: able to go out support each other. 165 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, and with public holidays, I guess while we're on 166 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: the topic, there's always confusion around what stores are allowed 167 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: to open on religious holidays or on Anzac Day, what 168 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: time they're open. I know I never have food in 169 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: the house when I'm meant to when these things occur 170 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 1: compared to other holidays. Would you like to see changes 171 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 1: introduced here? 172 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 2: We look personally, I think we should allow for a 173 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 2: bit more flexibility. That's not something that this government is 174 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 2: looking to change, but it is something that my act 175 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 2: Party colleague Cameron Luxton is looking to change. He's got 176 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 2: an Easter trading Shop Trading Amendment Bill and I personally 177 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 2: support that because there are a lot of businesses who 178 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 2: do wish to stay open. There are some families who 179 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 2: wish to go out and spend some time out in 180 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 2: the sun with their families as well, and I think 181 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 2: our society should allow for that flexibility. But it's not 182 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 2: something that the government itself is looking to progress. 183 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: Of course, from July first, paid parental leave is being increased, 184 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: putting more money in the pockets of key we parents 185 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,319 Speaker 1: and giving them that extra support that can only be 186 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 1: a good thing. 187 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 2: Right Totally, I take my hat off to anybody who's 188 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 2: got small children, but I personally love the idea that 189 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:26,439 Speaker 2: a new mum is able to spend a few weeks 190 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 2: at home with her baby, getting used to the new baby, 191 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 2: or even grandparents who might be looking after their grandchildren 192 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 2: as well. And what the paid parental leave change is 193 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 2: really saying is because wages over the last year have 194 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 2: gone up by and large, the changes to paid parental 195 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 2: leave have gone up as well, so there'll be more 196 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 2: money to help a new mum and a new family 197 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 2: pay the bills while they're away from work, and I 198 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 2: think that is a good thing that across government we support. Personally, 199 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:01,199 Speaker 2: really look forward to day where I'll be one of 200 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 2: these new mums taking some time off. That's not on 201 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 2: the cards at the moment, but I think it's something 202 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 2: that all New Zealanders support that when people are taking 203 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 2: time away from their work, there is a community to 204 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 2: help support them. 205 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: Of course, it's great for parents, but given the changing 206 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: landscape now, the universal idea of that nuclear family from 207 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: the fifties is kind of just getting dimmer and dimmer. Single, 208 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: childless and without a lot of support is definitely sort 209 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:30,199 Speaker 1: of more normal now than it seems to have been 210 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: in the past. 211 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 2: A lot of our sort of social supports. 212 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: Are set up around households and family households with children, 213 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 1: but we've got to sort of support more broadly what's 214 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 1: happening out there in the economy. Should we start talking 215 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: about entire tenements for perhaps single and or childless workers 216 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 1: as well. 217 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 2: You're suggesting the government pays for people who don't have 218 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 2: children to have a form of leave. 219 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:00,599 Speaker 1: I mean, it's a conversation should start it. 220 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 2: Look, I don't think that's where this government is going. 221 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 2: It's an interesting concept. I think it's the first time 222 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 2: that's been raised with me. Look, I think by and large, 223 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 2: if you've got people who are working really hard and 224 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 2: they want some time off, once again, I would just 225 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 2: encourage you to talk with your employer. You know, there 226 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 2: are many instances where your employer might actually have a 227 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 2: flexible working arrangement for you. And actually, when you think 228 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,319 Speaker 2: about it, there are a lot of people who don't 229 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 2: have actual hours baked into contracts, and they might just 230 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 2: work knowing that they've got a particular project that they've 231 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 2: got to work on, and when that project ends, they 232 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 2: then have time and flexibility to find the next project 233 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 2: for them, and in the meantime they can take a 234 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 2: few days or weeks or months to themselves. That's more 235 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 2: the contract and arrangement, and I think that really works. 236 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 2: There's already flexibility to allow people to do that, but 237 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 2: I'm certainly not going to advocate for the government just 238 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 2: to allow people to take some time away. 239 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: Minister, you've been in government for a week while now 240 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: a what are you most proud of that you've done 241 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 1: thus far? And be what are you most excited for? 242 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 2: Well, one of the areas that I'd be possibly the 243 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 2: most proud of is being able to find efficiencies within 244 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 2: our government departments and agencies. You know, when I was 245 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 2: out in the campaign talking to people, everybody I talked 246 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 2: to wanted to know that the money that they're giving 247 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 2: over in their taxes to government, it's not being wasted. 248 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 2: And I've been really clear on all of the elements 249 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 2: that I've been working on in government that I'm here 250 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 2: to work for New Zealanders and that money actually needs 251 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 2: to lead to better outcomes. And so I feel like 252 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 2: I've been doing a really good job within workplace relations 253 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 2: and safety as well as DEIA on that front, and 254 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 2: I think there's an awful lot of work for us 255 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:57,079 Speaker 2: still to go. You know, you think of the Employment 256 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:02,679 Speaker 2: Relations Service, the Mediation Service, es, migrant exploitation that might 257 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 2: happen in our community. There's a lot of really good 258 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 2: work that goes on. We've got a very efficient team, 259 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 2: but I'll keep my eyes and ears on the ground 260 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 2: to make sure that we can find even more efficiencies 261 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 2: and lead to even better outcomes so that our workers 262 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:17,320 Speaker 2: have very good entitlements. 263 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 1: And what are you most looking forward to? 264 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 2: What am I most looking forward to? Look every day 265 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 2: I come down here to the beehive. I actually feel 266 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 2: really grateful for the position that I'm in, that I'm 267 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,920 Speaker 2: able to affect real change. And what I'm really looking 268 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 2: forward to is getting to the end of this term 269 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 2: and looking back and thinking, Wow, yeah, I actually managed 270 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 2: to make a very good change where I can see 271 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 2: how it would benefit workers in this country. The last 272 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 2: thing I'd want is to get to the end of 273 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 2: this term and think, what can I put in my 274 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 2: hat there? What can I pin my hat on. I'd 275 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 2: like to look back and see that I've created a 276 00:14:58,120 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 2: little bit of a path of legacy. 277 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us, Minister. That's it for this episode 278 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: of The Front Page. You can read more about today's 279 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: stories and extensive news coverage at enziherld dot co dot nz. 280 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: The Front Page is produced by Ethan Sills and sound 281 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: engineer Patti Fox. I'm Chelsea Daniels. Subscribe to The Front 282 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and 283 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: tune in on Monday for another look behind the headlines.