Walker HamishHAMISH WALKER (National—Clutha-Southland): Madam Chair thank you very much. If what Minister Sage just said is true—if they were responding to submitters in the Finance and Expenditure Committee—why have I got over 20 submissions here from Queenstown all opposing this horrible piece of legislation? They want an exemption for Queenstown and we'll go through them and figure out why that is. This bill was rushed through with no thought given and it has many negative unintended consequences. This is going to do far more harm to the region than good. This Government knows best and prefers to tell people how to run their lives—a nanny State Government. Then they have ignored submitters from Queenstown including Mayor Jim Boult who wrote a very thorough submission. This will hurt the Queenstown economy and let's listen to a few of these.The first one is from a Graeme Todd. He's been a lawyer down there for four decades. He has grave fears" that this bill will hurt New Zealand's reputation "not only as a … place to reside (permanently or [temporarily]) but as a place to [emigrate] … and [to] our [reputation] as a leading world and open economy" that nothing will be achieved through this bill and that it at best could be called political posturing. In his 36 years "[I] have never"—never—"acted for an overseas purchaser [who seeks] to speculate in the New Zealand … property market." Let's go to the next person: Jamie Kirk who moved back to Queenstown 10 years ago with his partner. They had major concerns around housing affordability. "We both work [in] the construction industry and as a direct result of … legislation … have … had a number of overseas persons cancel projects" in Queenstown and around New Zealand. If this bill is passed "it will have … huge impact on [our] local economy which will … flow on … [to] the entire country …". "Restricting all overseas ownership within [Queenstown Lakes District Council] will have catastrophic effects on … local economy". Housing affordability differs greatly across New Zealand: "it is not a … one stop fix." Luxury home buyers are not purchasing homes that would otherwise have been "for regular working families to purchase." He goes on to mention what will happen if this bill's passed including losing high-end skilled construction staff who will go offshore and ply their trades elsewhere. Often they bring decades of experience in sustainable and innovative building techniques methods and materials not commonly used in New Zealand. They also talk about an American couple—Camp Glenorchy. They've spent over $40 million buying this piece of land developing it—it's one of the first carbon zero accommodation blocks in the country. And this "rich prick" American couple—CHAIRPERSON (Poto Williams): Order! Order!HAMISH WALKER: —are going to donate it all—[Interruption] You called them that—CHAIRPERSON (Poto Williams): Order!HAMISH WALKER: —but they are going to—CHAIRPERSON (Poto Williams): Order! I shouldn't have to shout to get the member to come to order. Now I have taken offence at something that you've said. I'd like you to stand withdraw and apologise.HAMISH WALKER: I stand withdraw and apologise.CHAIRPERSON (Poto Williams): Before you get into your—Rt Hon David Carter: First said in this House by Michael Cullen.CHAIRPERSON (Poto Williams): I'm actually still ruling. Before you resume your contribution I was letting you run on. However your contribution is probably more relevant to Part 2 than it is to Part 1 so I ask you to come back to Part 1.HAMISH WALKER: Sorry Madam Chair. I just want to talk about Queenstown Lakes District Council's contribution. They have asked that this bill not proceed as it will not improve housing affordability but make it worse and it will be at the expense of significant economic and social value provided by overseas buyers. A delay in proceedings is needed to enable research and assessment of consequences because quite clearly they haven't been considered—the negative consequences that will follow this bill. Sir Eion Edgar—he actually came and presented to the Finance and Expenditure Committee—said this bill "will be detrimental to NZ's international reputation and greatly restrict overseas parties" huge benefit to New Zealand. He talked about one buyer who bought five stations between Queenstown and Wānaka for around $60 million and then spent another $50 million restoring these properties to their original state and then they gifted 90 percent of the land to the Queen Elizabeth the Second National Trust for the benefit of and for use by all New Zealanders. They also maintained these estates at a cost of $3 million to $5 million a year—that's a total gift of over $100 million. He also goes on to say that when he asks for money for events like the Queenstown Winter Games and the Queenstown Trails Trust these are the first people to put their hands in their pockets and donate.David Cole chair of the housing trust in Queenstown for nine years—he was a board member of the national community housing organisation; very familiar with affordable housing issues in New Zealand—believes the current bill is nothing more than an empty gesture that in its present form will do more harm than good. I asked the Minister to please consider a carve-out for Queenstown. We really need these people and they have proved over the years they're making a huge contribution to New Zealand."