Henare Tau: General Debate 
Henare Tau: General Debate 
[Volume:654;Page:3168] 
Hon TAU HENARE (National) 
: 
 I will talk today about the Waterview issue. On behalf of west Auckland I say “Thank you!”. West Aucklanders have been waiting for 40-odd years to be able to drive from west Auckland to South Auckland without having to go through Spaghetti Junction. We have been waiting for this motorway for years and years but there has been no lolly over the last 9 years. We were promised a double tunnel that would cost something in the vicinity of $3 billion. Members opposite when in Government would not say where they were going to get the money from. Where was the money going to come from? They led the electorate up the garden path. People in Mt Albert said “Thank God for Helen!” while the rest of the country said “Thank God Helen’s gone!”. That was the sort of politicking and pork-barrel politics that was in operation over the last 9 years. We in this country are patting ourselves on the back because we got rid of that sort of pork-barrel politics. 
I heard in the Chamber today that Darren Hughes wants to compensate not only those who will lose their houses but also those who will not lost their houses—just because a motorway will be going through the area. I tell the young whippersnapper Darren Hughes who really should be in seventh form— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Eric Roy) 
: I think I can anticipate the point of order. Members should use appropriate titles for other members. The member should withdraw that comment. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: I withdraw. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The member for the West Coast and at least two other members were calling out while you were on your feet. I ask that you deal with them. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Eric Roy) 
: Members know well enough that points of order are heard in silence. Today we have had a few breaches in that area. Let this be a general warning. Those members who offended on that occasion know better. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: I remind the young Darren Hughes that I was born and bred in a place called Otara. I had as my back lawn some corn and the Southern Motorway. Not one of his mates in Labour ever suggested that my old man and my mother be compensated because there was a blinking motorway in the backyard. For goodness’ sake! Is this what Labour members have come to? That member shakes his head but he said he wants to compensate those who will not lose their homes. What about the people in Waterview? Who asked the people of Mt Albert when the motorway was actually being put through their place— 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: You’ve lost the plot! 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: I have lost the plot! Members on this side of the House do not lose the plot. “We won. You lost. Eat that!”. Does the member remember what mum and dad used to say to this side of the House? That lot on the other side of the House are not about progress; this side of the House is all about progress. 
The road from west Auckland to the south-east point of Auckland is good for the country. It is good for productivity. It is all about progress. If Labour wants to stand in the way of progress then so be it; it can stay in Opposition for the next 20 years. But this side of the House is about progress productivity and getting the country moving. Yes some people will be hurt by the removal of some houses. Some houses will have to be moved. We feel sorry about that having to happen but those people will be taken care of. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: No they won’t. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Yes they will—through the Public Works Act. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: It’s not the Public Works Act. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: The member has not read what it states in the Public Works Act. I am really sorry that Opposition members have not done their homework. They have come to the Chamber unprepared with only a rant and a rave from Darren Hughes. 
I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. When a point of order was raised against me and when a colleague of mine also had a point of order raised against him I wonder whether you turned the time off. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Eric Roy) 
: I did but now the member’s time will be turned off. His time has expired.