Bindra Mahesh: Address in ReplyText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBindra Mahesh: Address in Reply[Sitting date: 23 October 2014. Volume:701;Page:228. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MAHESH BINDRA (NZ First):E te Whare tēnā tātou katoa. E te Kaiwhakawā tēnā koe. Ngā mema o tēnei rōpū tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker Tisch and congratulations on your election as Assistant Speaker.To my fellow MPs and to all of those observers in the public gallery and on social media today I stand here as a new MP humbled by the occasion proud for my family and thankful to those who believed in me firstly the Rt Hon Winston Peters and our party and also all those who supported and voted for us. The journey has been a long time coming. On that I left my native India some 12 years ago looking for a better life for my family. I chose of all the countries in the world to settle here in this beautiful land full of opportunities and surrounded by a rich multicultural diversity of people.In my previous employment you might say that I had a captive audience somewhat like I do today. Yet we all sought to be here rather than be put here. It was our choice to run for office and when looking for the right party to represent I found that the New Zealand First Party had similar ideals to mine. They are the similar ideals that most forward-thinking industrious hard-working fair-minded and supportive people have in this wonderland we call Aotearoa the land of the long white cloud.I believe in fair play hard work and a just reward for all who seek to better their lives. I also believe that we as a people of many races and ethnicities have come to this place at this time to improve the lot of our families our friends new neighbours and indeed all New Zealanders. We do so with a hard-work ethic and a desire to see a better nation where all people can live without fear and hatred never having to live with bombs falling on their heads or in poverty never seeing leaders take and not share never having to hear of politicians taking backhanders or creating an unfair society never worrying whether the water we drink or swim in or fish from is polluted never having to worry that if we fall into harm’s way we will not have a helping hand to pick us up or to offer support never worrying if we or our loved ones when sick or infirm cannot get medical or hospital care—and so the list goes on. It is a list of blessings fought for and protected by those who have sat in these seats before us and who have ensured that we need not worry so.I want to see a country where all can afford a home or pay the rent and where all can achieve higher education be it in a university or by way of an apprenticeship. A place where equality and fairness is more important than separatism; a place where you may speak your mind and not have troops knocking on your door in the middle of the night demanding that you speak the party line of a dictatorship or even worse. I stand here today warning every New Zealander and everyone who calls this place home that I will stand up and fight to see that this is the case—that you may live without fear in your home in our land.I see a place where people are paid a livable wage for a fair day’s labour and where those who own businesses and create jobs share the wealth with those who work for them. People helping people—a fair and caring society that rewards those who work hard that rewards those who create employment opportunities for others and that rewards all of us so that our children will live better safer and richer lives.Growing up in Mumbai a city with a huge population with such disparity between the haves and have-nots I saw an unequal society that seemed unfair and I do not want New Zealand to become like that. Some there have great wealth while the masses have nothing. If you do not work you do not eat and if you do not have an education you do not advance it seemed to me. My own upbringing was strict and with strong values expected of us all. A respect for our elders and our family was paramount. To live with clear values and a determination to succeed was encouraged and I see these values with the party that I am so honoured to represent in the House today.When my beautiful wife and mother of my children was killed in a car crash some 8 years ago I could have given up on this country. Instead I embraced all the good that I experienced in that traumatic time and I chose to serve the people—all the people—who live in this remarkable Aotearoa.The other thing that I care about and love about this party that I serve is our elderly people—those who have worked so hard can enjoy some fruits of their sweat. The SuperGold card is but a small yet welcome endorsement of how we appreciate their efforts. I would like to see more given to the senior citizens of this land—something that we can discuss in the working papers with our colleagues I hope soon. For our servicemen and women who have served our land and fought in faraway wars in a combat or supporting role as peacekeepers and observers I want to see more recognition for the sacrifice that they gave and continue to give. The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement being pushed on us by overseas lobbyists should be open for debate by all members of this House with the public of this country contributing via a commission of inquiry. This needs to be set up by all parties and overseen by an independent committee.I believe that many changes for the good of all can be achieved by all in this House working together. It can become a reality where there is no “them and us” or “we and they”. This place here could see amazing changes come to fruition that would continue to endorse this country as one of the truly great places on the planet to reside and live in.For law and order justice must be seen to be done to be effective and I believe we must look at how the rights of law-abiding citizens seem to be overlooked in favour of offenders. We have people charged with crimes being let off because of delays in the justice system. This is not good for those who are accused and never tried thus being unable to prove their innocence and therefore being tainted for ever. And it is not good for those who are the victims of those crimes. Also I believe that a sentence must be served in full not lessened because of good behaviour. If a prisoner presents bad behaviour extend his or her sentence. The needs of victims of crime must be considered way above those who commit those crimes.And the planet and the place we live in—I feel really strongly about the need to protect our planet from the ever-polluting of it be it from heavy industry or the felling of our forests. We must find a happy medium. We must grow more forests and look after our waterways. We must come down heavily on those who pollute our environment to the detriment of all who live here. Let us look at offshore drilling. Make those companies that drill around our coastline deposit a huge guarantee into a New Zealand land - sea protective trust so that any clean-up is insured by those who would pollute our place.There is so much that needs to be done and these are but a few of the areas of concern that I have for our people and our country for our planet and our future.I want to take a moment of this time to say a big thankyou to those many people who have helped me to get to this place and to those who have supported me along the way. To get here today I have had to stand on the shoulders of giants and I would like to say thanks to them. They are many and they know who they are. I am truly grateful for the help support and encouragement that you all have given me and soon I will speak to you individually to give you my first thanks. My thanks go to Mr Giri Gupta and the entire Indian Weekender team for their support and to my friends Danny and Cynthia Roger Jeff and Jennifer Partridge Colin and Pam Fonseca and Vanbana Jawalkar for being there for me in good times and bad. I wish to acknowledge my son Vikram and my daughters Sanjivani and Ashwini.Finally I thank my ancestors particularly my grandmother who instilled it in me to never look for a fight but if in one then fight to win. It is better to walk away than to rumble. However if the need be then fight to win—never back down. The monsters who will stand against a fair and just society will be confronted by me and my colleagues for we will defend the rights of all those who feel aggrieved and are.To close I thank you members of the gallery those on social media and my honourable colleagues in this House. Nō reira kia nui toku mihi ki a tātou katoa. Tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tātou katoa.