Walker HamishKIWISAVER (ORANGA TAMARIKI GUARDIANS) AMENDMENT BILLIn CommitteeHAMISH WALKER (National—Clutha-Southland): I seek leave for all provisions to be taken as one question.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is none.Clauses 1 to 6HAMISH WALKER (National—Clutha-Southland): Despite the rather complex title to this bill it's a rather simple fix which will affect 6000 foster kids living in New Zealand. What the bill tries to do what the intent of the bill is is to basically allow all foster parents and all foster kids the same rights as any other child in New Zealand to be able to put them on the right track and ensure they have a strong financial future and security by putting money away to the place where only they can put it that can't be touched other than by the accountholder him or herself and that's KiwiSaver.The problem is that at the moment only legal guardians which is about 700 out of 6000 can do this under law and it's virtually impossible. Take the case of Megan Barclay. Megan you're watching. Thank you for your assistance with this. You've done a huge service to all foster parents and foster children in New Zealand so I acknowledge you. Basically at the moment Megan's spent several years trying to open a KiwiSaver account for her foster children.Throughout this process we've heard from submitters. One grandfather told me he tried to open an account for his granddaughter. There were several kids in the family. One of those granddaughters was a foster child and he just couldn't do it hence why we're talking about this here today. I also want to acknowledge Sam from Simplicity. Sam you've done a great job helping me push this bill and why it's needed. And if we can change this law it ensures that all foster kids in New Zealand are on the same playing field as other children.We also heard from a submitter: a foster child a young teenage boy. He spent 12 months pounding the pavements trying to find a part-time job to earn some money so that 10 or 15 years later he could save his money up to buy his first home. After 12 months of pounding the pavement he eventually found someone that let him mow his lawns at the weekend for some pocket money. This young child saved up $2500 which is a remarkable effort. He wanted to put this money away. The only place he could put it would be KiwiSaver. But despite saving up $2500 the money was stolen by his foster parent. Had he had the option of a KiwiSaver account this money would be safe. I heard from another young gentleman. He saved up $700 over 10 years only for that to be lost because he moved homes so often. He was moving homes every four or five months and eventually he lost the money. So if these kids had the opportunity to open up a KiwiSaver account it would ensure that these kids—the most vulnerable children in New Zealand—are put on the right track.I want to acknowledge all parties who agree on this so far. We want to give foster children the same rights as other children but what we don't agree on is around what sort of level. The original intent of the bill was to allow all foster parents that ability but unfortunately throughout the process there's been two main objections from the officials—Oranga Tamariki officials the IRD and unfortunately Government MPs. I just want to talk about those two main objections because at the moment it's quite a high threshold to become a legal guardian. So once you're a legal guardian currently you can open a KiwiSaver account which is almost impossible because you have to go through the CEO of Oranga Tamariki. That person—she's got tens of thousands of tasks. She's extremely busy. To get to her you've got to go through your social worker and the social worker of course has hundreds of tasks.So I just want to talk about Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 258 which talks about allowing all foster parents not just legal guardians. The first main objection was that signing up a foster child to a KiwiSaver is an important decision and shouldn't be taken lightly and therefore should not be open to any foster parent unless they have long-term care of their child. I just want to address that point.The bill came about because there is a barrier for all foster parents to open a KiwiSaver account and that barrier is the law. As I mentioned in the law at the moment the foster parent has to go through the social worker if they're a legal guardian to get to the legal guardian which is the CEO of Oranga Tamariki who is an extremely busy person. My SOP creates a legal obligation where Oranga Tamariki have to provide a birth certificate and an IRD certificate to the foster parents so they can make this work. Unfortunately the problem takes many years to occur. Supporting this SOP will give KiwiSaver rights to all foster parents and ensures that all kids are put on a level playing field.The second point I'd like to address is that an objection came along from the Government MPs and officials that any decision to sign up a foster child to a KiwiSaver account may in some way disempower the rights of the birth parent. I'm yet to hear from any member of this House or any official one negative aspect—one negative aspect—of signing up a kid to a KiwiSaver account. Let's be very clear. Any birth parent whose legal guardian status has been transferred to Oranga Tamariki has lost more than the right to decide the financial future of that child. Their child has been deemed so vulnerable that they have lost in most cases the everyday right to feed that child to house that child to care for the financial needs of that child to show love for this child. Often these children have never had love in their lives. Often they're born without knowing their parents. Often they don't even know their own name. In the scheme of things a decision to sign a child up to KiwiSaver pales in comparison compared with the other daily realities of caring for a child.For foster children who are in State care they have no financial security. And anyone in here who talks about ensuring the birth parent has the right I ask you to go out and talk to a foster child who has had their money stolen by their foster parent. See how they feel about this. Let's give these foster children a pathway to financial success. Let's put them on the right track.KiwiSaver is a success and I just want to quote from the Rt Hon Winston Peters on The AM Show yesterday who's in support of this bill. He said The law currently is an ass." and for once I agree with the Rt Hon Winston Peters. He gave his word yesterday on The AM Show that New Zealand First are going to support this bill and the SOP and I thank him for that.I'd just like to finish with a poem. Please bear with me. It'll take just over a minute. This is from a foster child who wrote to me. Often these children are voiceless so I'm giving this child a voice here in Parliament in the highest court of New Zealand.So you've asked what it takes - to get an ID.To prove I exist - that I am the "Real Me"I can't get a job - because IRDNeed to give me a number - to prove I'm the "Real Me"!So I'm told by social workers - "well you don't have a birth certificate"Which in your adult world - kind of makes me "illegitimate"There is a copy on file - but they say it's not "the real McCoy"So the lawyers say we have to go - and pay for one more!So the powers that be - fill in an applicationTo get a new birth certificate - so I'm part of this nation!In the meantime they tell me - "not to worry it will be cool"But after 5 months - they must think I'm a fool!I'm not a fool just powerless - relying on adultsI still can't have a bank account - never mind a bank balance!I can't get youth rates - to get the bus and train to courseI have to pay as an adult - as there's no other recourse!So 5 months later - I am still waitingNo updates or news - it's so very frustratingYou expect me to be patient - do you not think I have beenTry living my world - not sure you'd be too keen!So this is my plea - for all of us teenagers in careCan you sort this shit earlier - I wonder if you dare?The lack of these basics - is contributing to my stressIs it any wonder - I am a teenage mess?I hold on to hope - that somebody will listenBut frankly - it all seems too much of a mission!Just get me an ID - so I can join the adult worldAnd don't blame me - for what is quite absurd!You just don't make it easy - everything's so toughThe process is humiliating - it's really shit and roughBut I don't exist - as I cannot prove who I amMaybe this has come from no one - do you know who I am?I'll leave it with that. I look forward to the debate and I encourage every member of this House—we are elected here by the people to ensure we make the right decisions for the people. Let's give those voiceless foster children in New Zealand a voice. I commend the bill to the House."