Doocey Matt: Social Assistance (Portability to Cook Islands Niue and Tokelau) Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeDoocey Matt: Social Assistance (Portability to Cook Islands Niue and Tokelau) Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 18 June 2015. Volume:706;Page:4594. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri): After that speech by Poto Williams I struggled to get to my feet—what a sombre affair. It just drained the energy out of me. What a great day for the Cook Islands what a great day for Niue what a great day for Tokelau and what a great day for all New Zealanders who now will not need to be resident and present in New Zealand to receive their superannuation. This is just typical petty oppositional politics—everything we do they will say it is not good enough. Imagine if we gave every vulnerable family in New Zealand $25 a week. They would still say that was not enough—hold on we did do that and they still said that was not enough. What a great day for the Cook Islands for Tokelau and for Niue. What a great day for all New Zealanders who will be able to retire at the age of 65 and not have to be resident and present in New Zealand.Can I say kia orana to the Cook Islands taloha ni to Tokelau and fakalofa lahi atu to Niue. I do not have any ancestral connections to these islands but as I disclosed in my second reading speech it was in Rarotonga in the Cook Islands that I got down on my knees on the beach and proposed to my wife. I could not think of a better environment to start a beautiful relationship and I could not think of a better environment to retire to. This bill is being passed so what a great day this is.On Wednesday of this week I was at the Budget estimates hearing for Vote Social Development. I think we need to remind ourselves where the funding comes from. Vote Social Development is the biggest spender of this Budget at $25 billion—$25 billion. The country trusts us with the management of this money. It was demonstrated very clearly in September last year that they trust us that they know we are responsible. That is why they returned us to Government. In Vote Social Development the focus of the Government’s work is to move people from dependence to independence. It was great to see the programmes like the Community Investment Strategy which will deliver this.Can I pay homage not only to the Minister for Social Development Anne Tolley for this bill but also to the chair of the Social Services Committee Alfred Ngaro. Like many people in this Chamber we wear many hats. At times we look at things through a personal lens and at other times we look at things through a professional lens. It is very disappointing that people on the other side of the House have blurred those lenses from personal to professional and forgotten the very important roles that we play.It is somewhat interesting that the members opposite have selective memory about the submissions. The submissions process was yes overly favourable. I remember the Concerned Community Collective. It was great to see about 30 people get together from ages 25 to 75. It shows the key interest of this bill because they all can see the benefit but the Opposition clearly forgets.There were concerns around this bill around people moving back to the Islands and the pressure that would put on housing on social services and on health. That is why it is good to structure the process as we have done to take the steps we have done to see how this will play out. Of course these islands need repopulation and it is great that we will be able to promote economic development in these islands. Not only is it about people returning home to spend their hard-earned superannuation to support the local businesses in Tokelau Niue and the Cook Islands but it is about the tourism as well—the pensioner tourism. They will be able to go over and spend money in these islands.This bill amends the payments for New Zealand superannuation. Currently people have to reside and be present in New Zealand at 65. This change will allow applicants who are 65 to apply from these countries. It was great to hear the thinking that has already happened about the roll-out and the phasing-in of the IT support that will be needed to facilitate these payments. It shows that this Government—trustworthy and responsible—has clearly thought through the pragmatic implementation of this bill.We must remind ourselves that this bill is not only for people from Niue Tokelau and the Cook Islands. This bill is for all New Zealanders. They will be able to go and retire in these countries and enjoy a blessed retirement. Thank you. I support this bill to the House.