Hide Rodney: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee 
Hide Rodney: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:657;Page:6476] 
Hon RODNEY HIDE (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 I am sorry that Labour MP Carol Beaumont has not spoken on her very interesting amendment because we know that Labour wanted to extend the Auckland super-city to include Hamilton Taupo and Tauranga. Carol Beaumont has put forward an amendment to clause 12. The amendment inserts new subclause (6) which states—and I ask members to think about this; Labour members especially because Mr Phil Twyford has said he will support this amendment—“12(6) This subsection applies if at any elections held at the same time for a member or members of the governing body or local board and a member or members of Parliament a person is declared to be elected as a member of the governing body or local board and that person is also declared to be elected as a member of Parliament.” 
That would mean that a member would have to resign as he or she could not be a councillor a local board member or an MP all at once. 
Dr Rajen Prasad 
: Wouldn’t that be a good thing? 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: Mr Prasad calls out that it is a good thing. I presume that Mr Prasad and Labour members will vote for this amendment. 
Dr Rajen Prasad 
: I will yes. 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: That is very interesting. The problem with the amendment of course—and I am sorry to break this to Mr Prasad and the Labour Party—is that we do not have elections for Parliament and for councils on the same day do we. It never happens. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: And your point is? 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: I say to Ms Dalziel that if Labour members did their work they would see the point when they read the amendment. The Hon Lianne Dalziel still has not got the point so I will read it again: “This subsection applies if at any elections held at the same time for a member or members of the governing body or local board and a member or members of Parliament …” but they are definitely by the constitution of New Zealand never held at the same time. 
I just wish that Labour members would do the work on this bill. I wish they would actually care about the Auckland super-council and would understand—and I thought we would be hard-pressed to find a Kiwi who did not know—that we do not vote for members of Parliament and members of councils on the same day. Did Mr Henare know that? Of course he did. Did Mr John Carter know that? 
Hon John Carter 
: Absolutely. 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: Of course he did. Did Mr Hone Harawira know that? Of course he did. 
Hone Harawira 
: No he didn’t! 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: Oh Hone Harawira did not know that! Well funnily enough that is not so surprising when I think about it. 
But I would have thought the Hon Trevor Mallard would know. I would have thought that Darien Fenton would know that we do not vote for a member of Parliament and a member of a local council on the same day. Funnily enough I do not know about Mr Phil Twyford. I thought: “I wonder whether he knows.” I thought on balance that he probably would not know. He is going to vote for it. Mr Prasad did not know about it. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Ever heard of a by-election? 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: Oh! Trevor Mallard says that it is to apply only if there is a by-election. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: Is the member raising a debating point? 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: No it is not a debating point at all. The member has misquoted me and I seek leave to make a personal explanation. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: The member is seeking leave to make a personal explanation. Normally that would occur at the end of a call but the member is seeking leave to make a personal explanation. 
Hon John Carter 
: On what subject? 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: On the matter that the member has just referred to. 
Hon John Carter 
: Relating to? 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: By-elections. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: Leave is sought. Is there any objection to that course of action? There is objection. 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: Mr Mallard says that this amendment is to apply only if there is a by-election. So now the Labour members are implying that if there is a by-election—oh I do not understand. And I do not think the Labour members know what they are up to. I want Mr Phil Twyford to stand in this Chamber explain why he is voting for this amendment and explain its legal effect. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Tell the truth Rodney. Stop being a liar! 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: Order! 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: I want Mr Mallard to take a call and explain why I am not telling the truth. I would be happy for him to. I look forward to it. I would like Mr Prasad to explain—[ 
Interruption 
] 
David Garrett 
: Point of order— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: No I think I can capture the point. The member Trevor Mallard has crossed the boundary in relation to allegations of truthfulness and I ask him to desist. 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: It will be very interesting to hear the Labour members and Ms Beaumont in particular explain why Labour has an amendment that applies only when an MP is elected on the same day that he or she—that same person—is elected to be a councillor on the new Auckland Council. It beats this Government! Labour members do not need to make personal statements; they need to explain their Supplementary Order Paper.