Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:615;Page:11424] 
4.  
RODNEY HIDE (ACT) 
 to the  
Minister for Economic Development 
: Has the New Zealand taxpayer contributed through Investment New Zealand to Brunswick Corporation’s chief executive officer Dr George Buckley’s fly fishing trip to Tongariro on October 12 and 13 2002; if so what is the breakdown of the cost? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Minister for Economic Development) 
: 
 Yes. I am advised by Investment New Zealand that the cost of the 2 days’ fly fishing at Tongariro was $4393.34 GST exclusive and that the total cost of the 2002 visit which resulted in a $56.1 million investment in Navman and other multimillion-dollar New Zealand - based investments was $20041.35. 
Rodney Hide 
: Could the Minister explain why New Zealand taxpayers should have to pay $2617.50 for Dr Buckley’s weekend stay at the Tongariro Lodge $975 for his helicopter ride to go fly fishing $1200 for his fishing guide and $1537.50 for his dinner at Kermadec restaurant when Dr Buckley himself is paid over US$5 million a year as Brunswick’s chief executive officer; or is it his policy now to tax the poor to feed the rich? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: I would not have thought there would be any need to explain to any party in this Parliament let alone a so-called business support party like ACT the vital importance of attracting direct investment into New Zealand - based companies with high export potential. In terms of the investment cost on this occasion it took Navman 18 years to grow its sales to $100 million. Thanks to the Brunswick Corporation connection Navman is now on track to increase its sales to $1000 million over the next 5 years together with hundreds of additional high technology - based jobs. 
Hon Matt Robson 
: Why does Investment New Zealand fund visits for potential investors in New Zealand and is it worth it? [ 
Interruption 
] 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: What a good question! Of course the answer is yes. Mr George Buckley was visiting New Zealand to see Navman meet its staff and examine its premises as well as be introduced to other New Zealand companies that might benefit from a Brunswick Corporation connection. For example Brunswick announced a 49 percent investment in the boatbuilding company Rayglass based in Auckland and ongoing discussions regarding trade and technology collaboration with other New Zealand marine companies. Since the Navman investment Navman has created another 200 jobs in this country. 
John Key 
: Does he agree with the comments of Investment New Zealand staffer in New York Melissa Cameron in an email about Mr Buckley’s second trip to New Zealand last year: “It seems ridiculous that apart from the investment in time we have already put into this visit we should now be expected to fund an event yet once again be invisible partners.”; if not why not? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Investment New Zealand are not invisible partners in developing partnerships with international companies investing in new technology and in access to global market networks for New Zealand companies. The future of New Zealand lies in smart technology—such as Navman has developed and is now connected to in the world markets that Brunswick commands. The future for New Zealand along those lines is far better than the kind of pyramid-selling conferences that some members of this Parliament have attended in Fiji. 
Rodney Hide 
: Could the Minister share with the public of New Zealand the spin-off to taxpayers from the dinner that was organised by Investment New Zealand at Otto’s restaurant following the Brunswick-Navman deal which cost taxpayers $2332.50 and included five bottles of Cloudy Bay Te Koko 2000 three bottles of Nevis Bluff Pinot Noir 2000 and three bottles of Redmetal Basket 2000 especially given that Investment New Zealand director Ross Campbell reported: “I would agree that George’s trip and the arrangement of it have been a bit of a bugger’s muddle.”— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member will withdraw that last comment because that language is not permitted in this House. 
Rodney Hide 
: I withdraw. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have heard the question— 
Rodney Hide 
: Mr Speaker you haven’t heard the question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have heard the question. It is too long. 
Rodney Hide 
: I am sorry but you haven’t heard the question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have heard the question and that is all the member is going to be allowed to ask. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. So it is going to be your approach in this House that when a question is too long you are just going to cut if off halfway rather than asking a member to wrap it up? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No I did not say that. I judged that the question was far too long and then the member made an out-of-order comment. I judged that that is the end of it. 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: Any time that any agency of the State can for an investment of a couple of thousand dollars get $900 million worth of access to sales international networks and hundreds more jobs for highly competent New Zealanders I will back that investment any day over a scam conference in Fiji which the member himself spoke to. 
John Carter 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Earlier this afternoon Mr English was asked to retract part of his question because he made a comparison. Why is it that the Minister is allowed to make a comparison with regard to an issue in Fiji that has nothing to do with the question? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will rule on that tomorrow but the member did not make an accusation of improper conduct. 
Rodney Hide 
: I seek leave to table the receipts of Mr Buckley’s trip to New Zealand. 
Documents by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Rodney Hide 
: I seek leave to table the series of emails between Investment New Zealand staff stating that it was not a very satisfactory arrangement. 
Documents by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
John Key 
: I seek leave to table the email from Investment New Zealand’s New York office staff worker Melissa Cameron to Industry New Zealand. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.