Hereora Dave: General Debates 
Hereora Dave: General Debates 
[Volume:608;Page:5485] 
DAVE HEREORA (NZ Labour) 
: 
 I welcome changes to the country’s health and safety law. We have an appalling health and safety record in this country. Every year workers suffer from illnesses and injury caused by their work or worse they do not return home at the end of their working-day at all. The costs in both social and economic terms are far too high. Since July 2002 in my region the greater part of south Auckland six fatal workplace accidents have been reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Service under the Health and Safety in Employment Act. However that number represents just one part of the total number of workplace deaths. 
The amendments to the Health and Safety in Employment Act will help create a zero-tolerance culture for behaviours that cause accidents and ill health in the workplace. The “she’ll be right mate” attitude to health and safety has unfortunately been all too common. People cut corners to save costs or because they feel immortal or because to some extent being a reasonably young society we take risks. Whilst that can be positive on occasions it can also have disastrous consequences. For the first time the law makes it clear that health and safety is the responsibility of everyone in the workplace. Workers are expected to take an active part in health and safety matters and employers must provide them with reasonable opportunities to do so. 
I would like to move on to another issue and on this I rise in support of my Maori colleagues. I am referring to the attempt by the Leader of the Opposition Bill English to abolish the Maori seats. I consider that to be a nonsense. For me it highlights the lack of foresight that continues to fuel the longstanding questions about Mr English’s leadership. His continued failed leadership failed policy lack of vision and lack of direction orchestrate a continued litany that fumbles from one disaster to another. But let us be fair to the Opposition leader. His entire caucus wholeheartedly supports abolishing the Maori seats. It is not just him—his entire caucus supports that position. 
I hold the view that the attempt to abolish the Maori seats is just a red herring. The real agenda—and Gerry Brownlee knows it—is to return to a restricted form of Maori representation in this House. I would not be surprised if National’s long-term strategy was more about restricting the rights of Maori to vote. I find it absolutely fascinating that the Maori membership within the National Party was not consulted over that position. That is absolutely fascinating and it shows that there is an underlying agenda to take away the rights of Maori to vote. That lack of consultation— 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I took deep offence at the member’s statement implying that the policy of another party in this democratic Parliament is to take away the votes of Maori. That is deeply offensive. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is a matter of debate and it can be resisted very stoutly if members wish it to be. 
DAVE HEREORA 
: As I said earlier there is resounding support from the National caucus for the abolition of Maori seats. But can we say the same thing about its leadership? Can we say that its caucus resoundingly supports Bill English as its leader? I do not think so. I think that the numbers are divided so that on the one hand they are supportive of bashing Maori but on the other hand when it comes to their leadership they are divided. 
I ask National members why that is. Why are they divided over their leadership issues? I will tell the House why. It is because they are not supportive of their current leader. They are so divided that I believe it is only a matter of time before Bill English goes. I say to Gerry Brownlee that I take heed of the comments he made in his address. I think that his presentation had some mastery to it. It shows that he will get there. He should keep on going and with a bit more experience he will get there.