Carter David: General Debates 
Carter David: General Debates 
[Volume:617;Page:12643] 
Hon DAVID CARTER (National) 
: 
 It is the arrogance and the ranting and raving of Ministers like Mr Maharey and Mr Goff that will destroy this Government. Those Ministers stand in the House today and argue that things are going well for the Government seemingly oblivious to the fact that 10000 angry New Zealanders are on the steps of Parliament today. In response to Mr Doug Woolerton’s comments there can be no doubt that the speech delivered by Don Brash as leader of the Opposition at Orewa was a watershed speech. Of that there can be no doubt. Don Brash raised in that speech a number of issues of concern to most New Zealanders. He raised those issues when other New Zealanders had become too scared to. 
Today I want to know what happened to the Prime Minister who only a few months ago claimed in this House that she was fast becoming a victim of her own popularity and competence. Where was that Prime Minister today when 10000 New Zealanders wanted to deliver a message to her? She was cowering in her office too scared— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member knows he cannot say that. He will stand withdraw and apologise. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: I stand withdraw and apologise. Where was the Prime Minister when she was not prepared to meet those people today? What has happened to that popular and confident Prime Minister who now looks as if she will remain Prime Minister only by calling on the help of Winston Peters and 12 other members of Parliament whom no New Zealanders know? The Government is in trouble. It is terminal. In a few weeks’ time it is due to deliver a Budget. Even yesterday Helen Clark had difficulty in assuring the media that she would have the numbers to deliver that Budget—a Budget that is important for the Government because it is one in which it will recklessly spend a $6 billion surplus of taxpayer money in a desperate attempt to buy votes from middle New Zealand. We had that clear statement from Michael Cullen today. 
I ask how anybody can now trust the Prime Minister who in dealing with Tariana Turia last Monday cajoled her to lie in the back seat of the Prime Minister’s car then took the opportunity to have her office phone the media to make sure they got shots of Tariana Turia doing that. That is how Tariana Turia was treated by the Prime Minister and it is little wonder that she has decided she does not want to remain a member of the Labour caucus. 
The question that now needs to be asked is: what about all the other Maori members of Parliament some of whom may well have attended the hikoi today? Will they now be loyal to their constituents out on the steps of Parliament or will they blindly support the Government on the seabed and foreshore legislation? Dover Samuels who is trying to interject should take a call. The public of New Zealand deserves to know whether we now have a Government with the numbers. 
Hon John Tamihere 
: You’ve made some bad speeches but this is the worst. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: John Tamihere says that it has. He appears to be far more sure than the Prime Minister was yesterday. The Prime Minister can run from this issue but she cannot hide. She can run from the by-election with Tariana Turia and she can be prepared not to defend her policy but at the end of the day the voters of New Zealand will have the chance to vote on this policy. We know darn well that what Labour politicians have said to Maori is totally different from what has been said to the general public. That message will come out in the select committee process. 
I conclude by reminding New Zealanders that when the Budget is delivered in this House in 3 weeks’ time it may throw some money to middle - income New Zealand. That money is owned by the taxpayers of this country.