McKelvie Ian: Crown Pastoral Land (Rent for Pastoral Leases) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
McKelvie Ian: Crown Pastoral Land (Rent for Pastoral Leases) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:678;Page:1277] 
IAN McKELVIE (National—Rangitikei) 
: 
 I will not spend a lot of time on this but I have listened tonight to a lot of unusual topics. I hope members on the other side of the Chamber do not hate farmers because I did not come here to be hated. 
Andrew Little 
: We don’t. 
IAN McKELVIE 
: Thank you Andrew. I am here to speak on the Crown Pastoral Land (Rent for Pastoral Leases) Amendment Bill and I will be very brief. I have noticed a few interesting things tonight. I think one of the things we need to be aware of is in fact that the savings put in place by the process we are about to enter into to negotiate these rents will be significant. I think just the fact— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Savings to the farmers. 
IAN McKELVIE 
: Interesting. Mr Mallard is talking about savings to the farmers and I noticed the member for Rimutaka earlier tonight talking about the fact—and I am not sure he knew the difference between sheep and people. But clearly when you look at Mr Mallard you can see the electricity radiating out from his suit because obviously they do not use wool in their suits on the other side of the Chamber. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Pure wool. 
IAN McKELVIE 
: Ha ha! I would take a bet that it is not.  
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Pure wool and made in the Hutt. 
IAN McKELVIE 
: So I think that that is the first issue I want to draw to our attention. But in fact there will be significant savings— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Can the member just say “Rembrandt” for me? 
IAN McKELVIE 
: Rembrandt—made in the Hutt made in the Hutt—and not necessarily made of wool though. 
But I think the savings in this measure should not be overlooked. They are absolutely significant the savings that will occur in this. I think the fact that half of these tenancies are in dispute at the moment is a significant factor that we need to consider as a Government. I think the cost of that is massive so it is very important that we consider that. The savings in this are pretty significant. 
The formula for setting rents in section 23B inserted by clause 6 is very clearly set out. I think it will very clearly add some benefit to this and I am sure there will be some practical and positive outcomes from the way we set the rents as a result of this bill. I also believe that in this instance and in the course of the negotiation of these rentals the environmental status of this land will certainly be paid attention to. If we think about how farming works in New Zealand we see that the care of the environment is absolutely critical to the future of our farmland whether it is high country in the South Island whether it is high country or hill country in the North Island or whether it is dairy farming in Taranaki—it is all the same. So I am sure that the capacity to manage the environment or the environmental factors in the course of this rent-setting process will be very positively dealt with. 
I think this bill makes very positive progress for both the Government and the country and for the future of our high country—it also certainly improves that. I just have to comment on something Mr Damien O’Connor said. He talked about the sheep in 1650. Well of course in 1650 the sheep were very like the rabbits we have in the high country today. Before the advent of Robert Bakewell of course the sheep were not much bigger than rabbits and that is worth recognising. So if you go back to— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I can’t remember. 
IAN McKELVIE 
: Clearly Mr O’Connor could; I cannot either. 
I just want to conclude by saying that I think the bill is very positive and I am very pleased to be able to support this and also to support the high country farmers of the South Island. As Mr O’Connor again put it they are as unique as the land is and I think it is pretty special that we can support that. Thank you.