McAnulty KieranKIERAN McANULTY (Labour—Wairarapa): Thank you very much Mr Speaker. I'm pleased that Mr McKelvie outlined National's position on the bill because if we listened on to that speech you'd think that they'd be voting against it. But they're not. They're voting for it to go to select committee because they want this bill to go through admittedly with some improvements but we've said no different. We've identified that there's some areas that we would like the select committee to look into but we're actually just focusing on the issue here.So what we're being presented with is an alternative. It's that if we bring in a requirement that people that are elected to public office have to declare the interests that they have that's going to stop some people from going into local government. I would ask why?" Why would publicly declaring your conflicts stop you from standing for public office? If you were that way inclined I think your answer is staring you in the face. I would take issue with the point that was made by the previous speaker Maureen Pugh on this bill. Yes we do want people with business experience. Yes we do want successful people. But we want people from across society representing our communities in local government. We don't just want business people just like we don't just want retired people or we don't just want men. We want a cross-section.In my electorate there are five district councils and I note that there are six in Mr McKelvie's council which are considerably more I think than most of the other electorate MPs that have spoken to this tonight. Every single one of those councils are full of people with integrity that are committed to their communities: South Wairarapa Carterton Masterton the Tararua District and Central Hawke's Bay. I note that they each have a different way of declaring potential conflicts. Some do it before a meeting. Some register it before they meet—etc. etc. I think that's the key element there though: it's the inconsistency. Ultimately if the argument is as has been said that many councils already have something in place wouldn't it be therefore true that these councillors the ones that we're being told won't stand for council have to declare it through the nature of their business anyway?So let's just put that to the side and stop pretending that this is a major issue. Because people are committed to their communities they will stand for council and if they stand for council knowing that if they discuss something that's relevant to their interests they have to declare it then let's make it consistent across the board.Maureen Pugh: There's going to be nothing left for them to do.KIERAN McANULTY: Maureen Pugh perhaps you might want to put your mask on. Perhaps you could book your vaccination at the same time.So the thing with this is that it is essentially asking local government elected officials to do exactly the same as what members of Parliament are doing. I don't accept the argument that's been put forward that yes this is a full-time job and some local body representatives are full-time representatives and that there is a difference between city and rural elected representatives. I note that Tracey Collis the Mayor of the Tararua District a woman who I respect immensely and have a very good working relationship with disagrees. She believes that the system is in place at the moment but I know for a fact that the Tararua District Council probably does lead the way in ensuring that their members do declare interests before they go. But I think it's also fair to say that some councils probably do not.So let's just make it consistent. Let's vote for this bill send it to select committee and nut it out. We'll get submissions from people across the board. We'll get submissions from those involved in local government. Given that this is a member's bill this is not a Government bill so there hasn't been any consultation prior to this. Here's their opportunity to come forward and put their view. We'll also get representatives from residents' groups I'm sure that want to know that the people that they've elected to their local council will have declared any potential conflict and that it's out there in the open. It will be along the lines of the one that exists for members of Parliament I'm sure. It doesn't tell you to declare the exact amount that's in your savings account; it just declares that you've got a savings account with an amount in there that's over a certain limit. That's all—that's all.Mine is very easy to declare. I don't own a home. I was on The Golden Shears board; I'm no longer. I was on the Wings Over Wairarapa board; I'm no longer. But when I was on those I declared them because there was a chance that they might ask the Government for money.Hon Member: Did you declare the ute?KIERAN McANULTY: It's not worth over 500 bucks. So I congratulate Tangi Utikere for getting this bill pulled. I wish him all the best and I hope to see this improved and passed. Thank you."