Kaye Nikki: Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill — In Committee 
Kaye Nikki: Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:668;Page:14832] 
NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) 
: 
 I am pleased to be taking a call on the Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill. I want to be clear: members on this side of the Chamber are very supportive of rugby we are very supportive of the Rugby World Cup 2011 and we are very supportive of the legislation that is here before the Committee. Let me say very very slowly that the New Zealand Labour Party is opposing this legislation. It makes me sad because we had quite a collegial select committee process. I have looked through this legislation and I cannot see a minority report. So what happened? Something happened at the point that it came back to the House. We know there were some issues around the Canterbury earthquake provision and those members got a bit scared; we accept that. 
However let me make the point that the Rugby World Cup is the third-largest sporting event in the world. It is the largest sporting event that New Zealand has ever held and it is really important in my view to put that into context. When 85000 tourists will be coming here we need to have the infrastructure in place. All of the Government Administration Committee members recognised that inevitably difficult situations might arise and we need to put some legislation in place to deal with that. We have gone there. We have sold 500000 tickets. We have moved ahead with all the stadia. Now we want to put this legislation in place that will deal with unforeseen situations as they may arise. 
I want to deal now with the members opposite who have been saying that this is all about wielding great power around the Rugby World Cup. Let me bring some of those members back to planet Earth. The fact is that this is the largest sporting event ever to be held in New Zealand. We are dealing with significant numbers of people. We are dealing with significant issues in terms of infrastructure and transport. We are saying that we do not envisage these provisions being used and we do not want them to be used but if a situation arose it is possible that we may want to have a provision or a process that says the Rugby World Cup Authority will put forward a recommendation. It might be that the Minister for the Rugby World Cup says we disagree with that after consulting the Minister for Economic Development and other relevant Ministers. I think that is an entirely reasonable proposition as do most of my colleagues. We have seen some of the situations that happened in Delhi. This is New Zealand Inc on the line. This is our reputation. It is the view of members on this side of the Chamber that it is reasonable and prudent to have a process within this legislation. 
Ultimately let me say that at the end of the day the Rugby World Cup event is scheduled to take place right before an election. We believe that if a situation did arise and the Minister did exercise those powers then it is better that the Minister is accountable to the electorate to the people of New Zealand than to some unelected people on the Rugby World Cup Authority. I am pleased to be supporting this legislation. Members on this side of the House are very clear that we want to have a Rugby World Cup event that runs smoothly so that we can show the world what a great country we have and that we can hold world-class events. We support this legislation and we are proud to do so. Members on the other side are playing petty politics. I am proud to support this legislation.