Hayes John: Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits)  Registration Bill — In Committee 
Hayes John: Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits)  Registration Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:635;Page:6240] 
JOHN HAYES (National—Wairarapa) 
: 
 I want to address some comments made by my parliamentary colleague from the New Zealand First Party Doug Woolerton. One of the problems we face in this country is that the bureaucrats have taken over the business of governance from this House. They can do that because a number of political colleagues in the House do not do their homework. I believe that the Minister who introduced the Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Bill Judith Tizard did not understand a word she was saying and Doug Woolerton from New Zealand First clearly did not understand what he was talking about. He has not read the bill. We heard that he is a farmer and has done various other things and that he has an understanding of Federated Farmers but that is totally irrelevant to this bill. 
We are debating Part 1 which contains the purpose clause—clause 3. Paragraph (a) of clause 3 states that the purposes of the Act are to “contribute to the development and continual growth of and innovation in the wine and spirits industries in New Zealand by providing a suitable legal framework for the registration of geographical indications;”. I ask Doug Woolerton how that requires decisions by the Government. The man completely misunderstands the bill. I do not believe he has read it. Under paragraph (b) the purposes are to provide “a sound trading and marketing environment that facilitates rather than creates barriers to the trade in wine and spirits;”. I ask Mr Roberts— 
Colin King 
: Woolerton. 
JOHN HAYES 
: —Doug Woolerton I am sorry. I got the name wrong. That is what happens when one is dealing with insignificance. I ask him how paragraphs (a) and (b) of clause 3 are relevant to the Surveyor-General putting lines on the map. How are they relevant to the man who runs the national naming process in this country giving names to places? Neither has any relevance to determining the character of a wine. As I said before the character of a wine comes from the soils the climate the winemaker and a whole lot of things. We need to allow the industry to find competent people to make decisions about geographic indications. This bill specifically precludes that from happening. 
This bill will allow bureaucrats to run this process on behalf of our industry. I believe that far too many bureaucrats are running this country and that they are well out of political control because people like Mr Woolerton do not do their homework and understand the dimensions of legislation that is being put forward. The bureaucrats are running this process not the House. The House should be doing it. I ask all members to understand very carefully what is going on here and to make sensible decisions. If they do not they are damaging our industry and if they are damaging our industry they are damaging our economy and if they are damaging our economy they are damaging every individual in this country because we will not be earning the money we need to compete globally. Doug Woolerton was absolutely wrong in his comments. He did not understand anything of what he was saying. He has not read the bill. 
 I draw members’ attention to Part 1 “Preliminary provisions” and in particular to clause 4 which states: “international agreement means any bilateral or multilateral treaty convention or agreement to which New Zealand is a party”. This is why we are passing this bill—for international reasons. It has nothing to do with the Government decisions that Mr Woolerton is talking about. He has not read this bill. [ 
Interruption 
] Mr Chair could you please call that man to order? Thank you Mr Chair. 
I move on to other interpretations in clause 4. I notice quite a big provision on the term “working day” that describes the working week and all sorts of other irrelevancies. This bill has been designed by bureaucrats who have nothing better to do with their day than to invent work for themselves at a cost to the taxpayer. This is very very disturbing. We need legislation here that will focus and sharpen our economy and that will move this country ahead. We see the same sort of thing happening for example in the health industry. An army of bureaucrats has been recruited in the health industry to get rid of waiting lists for hospitals. 
Part 1 agreed to.