Woolerton R Doug: Urgent Debates — Child Youth and Family Services Department—Merger with  Ministry of Social Development Whangamata Marina—Minister’s Intervention 
Woolerton R Doug: Urgent Debates — Child Youth and Family Services Department—Merger with  Ministry of Social Development Whangamata Marina—Minister’s Intervention 
[Volume:629;Page:1729] 
R DOUG WOOLERTON (NZ First) 
: 
 New Zealand First has listened to both sides of this argument. We are happy that the law has been observed both by the Whangamata Marina Society over many many years and by the Minister. It is one of those situations where we are not particularly happy with what has been done but we cannot go up to Whangamata as National Party members have done and rabble-rouse and try to stir up trouble in an irresponsible way. We are content to wait for a judicial review which we are sure will happen and which the marina society is seeking. We are happy to wait for the views of that review to be known. 
We also believe that it is important to understand that this Parliament—and I am talking now about Nick Smith’s proposed bill—does not change retrospectively a decision that a Minister has made lawfully. Whether or not we agree with that decision is another story altogether but there is so much huff and puff going on at present that I think it will do people good just to wait and see what other people have to say about this situation. 
We understand that the marina society was more than prepared to address the issues brought up by local iwi and that it was doing that willingly and happily. We understand that the local marina society was happy to address those issues that were of concern to the surfers. We understand that all of those issues would have been addressed by the marina society. But we do accept that this is not on private land. This is on public land and we accept that a higher barrier of proof must pertain in this situation. 
The Minister has used his judgment in this case. Personally I would probably have gone along with the Environment Court but New Zealand First does not accept the stance taken by the National Party. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Don’t talk rubbish. 
R DOUG WOOLERTON 
: The member opposite says that I am talking rubbish. I am taking a responsible view as is New Zealand First as opposed to the stirring of the National members who are saying that democracy is being overturned when it is they who over a number of years when they were in Government were party to putting into law the vetoes that are being used by the Minister today. This is not something new; it is not something that has just happened. If members go back to the days of Simon Upton Nick Smith etc. they will see that the things National members are arguing against today are things that they put into place years ago. I for one do not know how Nick Smith can pretend in front of an audience in Whangamata that he is more pure than the driven snow when National is largely responsible for the legislation that has led to this decision. It is National that accepted that a Minister should have the power of veto and New Zealand First is not denying that. 
Local government as we all know works on the basis that its responsibilities are devolved by central government and we do not have a lot of checks and balances on that. One of the things we do have and that we will fight to retain is the power of veto. I think it would be a very sad day if central government were just to say that it will walk away from its responsibility that it will fire shots at local government that it will stir up trouble locally but that it will not accept the final responsibility. New Zealand First is not of that view. We are prepared to wait for the judicial review that we know is coming and we will speak more on this subject then.