Hide Rodney: Local Government (Rating Cap) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Hide Rodney: Local Government (Rating Cap) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:633;Page:4813] 
RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 May I thank the Maori Party members for their support for the bill and indeed for their analysis and for the realisation that Maori were the first people in New Zealand to feel the effect of outrageous rates forcing them off their land and the fact that now many New Zealanders particularly the elderly and those on a fixed income are feeling what Maori felt 100 years ago. I should also acknowledge National Party members for their contribution and their support and also too United Future. 
Indeed United Future’s contribution was through Gordon Copeland and he suggested to me that allowing the cap to be broken with the permission of the Minister of Local Government was a bit Muldoonist. I put that in there because I thought it was a cheap way of providing some transparency and I certainly believe that it is a mistake. I suggest that we should have a cap and if councils want to break that cap for good reason then let us have a local referendum and get the permission of the people who will be paying the rates—that is the ratepayers. We heard a lot today about democracy but true democracy would be to say that if we are going to put up rates we should get the people’s consent first. I am sure if there is a good reason for putting up rates they will give their consent. 
I have to say that I am not surprised at the Labour Party opposing this bill. I notice Labour members spoke at length about 10-year plans and how they will provide a democracy. I know they do not say 5-year plans because they have a rather bad connotation so they have gone one better than Stalin. Labour will have a 10-year plan for New Zealanders which will see more New Zealanders forced off their property. How sad is that? 
We all as MPs know of people who have worked hard built their houses paid off their mortgages and raised their children. Yes they have had the windfall of their properties going up in value because of rising property values but to them those properties are their homes. Then their rates go up but they are pensioners of a fixed value and they cannot afford to pay the rates. The council tells them either to take out a loan—that is go back to having a mortgage like a young couple starting out 40 or 50 years ago—or sell up. It is as if we have New Zealanders living in a home that they own but they rent it from local government; if they cannot pay the rent they will get kicked out. That is what my bill with the support of National United Future and the Maori Party was designed to stop. 
It is Parliament that gives local government the power to strike rates. It is Parliament that sets the rules. I was saying through this bill that we should set a rule for the amount by which local councils can increase rates in any one year and if they want to go above that amount they should get the permission of the people. That is democracy. Ask the Maori people whether they want to pay more rates for the service they will get as a consequence; let us not just take it. 
I have to say that I am disappointed with New Zealand First members—that will not come as a shock to them—and that the people of New Zealand are disappointed with New Zealand First. I was surprised by Doug Woolerton’s attack on Grey Power today—for what? Not being sufficiently in love with New Zealand First; not going along with everything New Zealand First does? But New Zealand First members voted for my bill—an identical bill to this—in 2004. They thought it was a good idea for it to go to the select committee so the people could have their say. It was all right then but now it is not. What has happened since then? The only thing that has happened since then is that people’s rates have gone up. Oh and there is one other thing: Winston has got his bauble and he no longer cares. If he can keep his bauble then it is to hell with the people and their rates. 
I ask members to look at this newspaper I am holding. I am quite proud of this headline which reads “Finally action on rates”. That is because of what this bill has done the people of New Zealand have done and this Parliament has done. Finally is it action? Well we will see. Look at these rates increases I say to Mr Brown and Mr Peters Auckland City 13.4 percent Tauranga 13 percent Rodney District 10.2 percent and North Shore City 9.5 percent. The Sheriff of Nottingham would blush at those sorts of increases. He never threw old people out of their houses but New Zealand First is saying it is OK for local government to throw people out of their houses particularly if they are old. [ 
Interruption 
] Brian Donnelly is saying yes that is what New Zealand First is saying—throw them out of their houses. 
What will we have? Mr Peters and his bauble and some inquiry announced by press release which we have not seen. There have been no terms of reference and no promise. This bill will put an end to rate increases. I say to New Zealand First members that they should vote for it.