Ngaro Alfred: Social Assistance (Portability to Cook Islands Niue and Tokelau) Bill — Second ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNgaro Alfred: Social Assistance (Portability to Cook Islands Niue and Tokelau) Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 05 May 2015. Volume:705;Page:3171. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]ALFRED NGARO (National): It is an honour to be able to rise and take a call on the second reading on the Social Assistance (Portability to Cook Islands Niue and Tokelau) Bill. First of all to my Tokelauan colleague over there Kris Faafoi taloha ni. And also to my Cook Island colleague over there Poto Williams kia orana tatou katotoa. E te ora matoa o te atua. Greetings to you as well. Unfortunately there are no Niuean colleagues here but we do acknowledge Niue as well fakalofa lahi atu. Kia matolo oti because they are the three nations of the Realm of New Zealand. What people also may not know is that it has been said that when we sing the national anthem “God Defend New Zealand” and we talk about the triple star it is a particular reference to the three nations of the Realm. In the national anthem we talk about defending them from strife and war. So there absolutely is a special relationship which was signed in 1965. In fact for the Cook Islands this year is a celebration of 50 years of their independence. For those countries to be in free association and self-governing is very much an important aspect of self-dependence and self-determination. We think that is absolutely important.Also I would just like to mention that the relationship is such that we are commemorating the 100 years of conflict for New Zealand in regard to service and sacrifice. We have been working Poto Williams and myself on acknowledging the contribution that 147 Niuean soldiers made—and 500 Cook Islands soldiers as well. In fact because of that relationship Sir Māui Pomare in 1915 through to 1917 visited those nations of the Realm and through that many of them came in the Rarotongan contingent—over five contingents that came across and fought in the New Zealand (Māori) Pioneer Battalion. That goes I suppose towards acknowledging the relationship of the nations of the Realm. Their contribution to New Zealand societyas well both in the past and also in the present—that becomes very important. Hence this bill becomes important to those nations and in particular to myself—I am Kiwi born and of Cook Island descent Mr Assistant Speaker.I do not know whether you have been privileged enough to go to those Pacific nations but—The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): I have.ALFRED NGARO: You have. I am sure that you would have enjoyed it there.To my parents who are in New Zealand at the moment and are heading back home it is a proud moment to be able to ensure that this bill actually has some significance for them as well. I think this bill is quite significant in that it does allow the opportunity for those three nations to have a special arrangement. That arrangement is not afforded to all of the 22 Pacific nations under the special portability arrangement; this particular arrangement is specific to those three nations. I want to make that point—that already in particular with this bill there is recognition of that relationship.The other thing that I want to mention inside of this is the Supplementary Order Paper that was mentioned—and I will talk at a bit more length about the Supplementary Order Paper that has come through from New Zealand First. It talks about introducing a new section which is 5(2) to replace section 8(c). I think it is particular to a number of submissions. There were 13 written submissions and six that were oral. In fact we were very fortunate to actually have the Premier of Niue the Hon Toke Talagi come and also the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands the Hon Henry Puna was present. It was quite an honour to have them personally present to us their submission in the select committee.The three key objectives of the bill are firstly to improve ongoing economic and social viability for those three nations of the Realm; secondly to recognise the close constitutional relationships; and thirdly to ensure that New Zealanders have options for retirement because this actually is an option not only for those descendants who may want to return home to their nations but also for other New Zealanders. In fact there are a number of expats who are living in those countries now who have gone back and said “This is a place where I want to retire.” This gives them that opportunity as well.I want to make mention of a report and I know that Carmel Sepuloni talked about the report which was submitted in 2010. In fact I have got the report here. She was a part of the inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with South Pacific countries. In that report it actually talks about Realm of New Zealand entities and responsibilities to New Zealand citizens overseas. I think it is quite important because it does talk about the challenge of depopulation. When I think about one of the key objectives which is improving ongoing economic and social viability for these countries this bill attempts to do that. In fact it talks about the statistics where in the Cook Islands alone it is depopulating by some 500 people leaving the country and that is a real concern for it. In a decade it has gone from 18000 to 12000 which is now the current population and that fluctuates during the holiday breaks. So this is becoming a real concern. This bill then is intended to ensure that it actually tries to address that issue as well.The second thing about the bill is recognising close constitutional relationships. In fact the report goes further in its recommendations and in its first recommendation acknowledges that among the Pacific Island States the priority should be given to assisting those territories with which New Zealand has a special constitutional relationship. So again what I would like to commend is the fact that the bill is actually fulfilling some of the recommendations that are in the report. In fact I want to go even further. On this it talks not only about what this bill may fulfil but also about things that under a National Government we would also be able to do like the Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum which was held in 2013. Again other Governments have talked about this but actually under a National Government we have been able to deliver that—the first it has ever had. It is the same thing again: the priority over here is to support these Realm nations and again under a National Government we have been able to deliver on that.I want to then address the issues of concern because out of the submissions probably the most telling issue of concern was around the 5 years over 50 rule. We know that as it currently stands a person may be eligible for superannuation if they after 20 years of age have served at least 10 years in New Zealand—5 of those years after turning 50 years old. I suppose Supplementary Order Paper 71 in particular has tried to challenge that—to see whether we can remove that and whether there is some opportunity for I suppose an equity of consideration in their regard. I just want to contend that under the current status that the special portability arrangement for people able to take their New Zealand superannuation or old veterans pension—well I mention the veterans pension here because it is part of that omnibus bill approach to this bill. I want to acknowledge Bill Framheim for whom and for a number of cases even the Governor-General was a strong supporter in actually ensuring that the veterans bill—The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Order!ALFRED NGARO: Sorry Mr Assistant Speaker.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): You just cannot bring him into the debate.ALFRED NGARO: Oh apologies. It is better not to bring him into the debate. There was a special annuity that was given for a veteran who had served faithfully. In fact there were four tours of duty. He was one of only four New Zealanders in Viet Nam to have served four tours of duty. I think the fact that this veterans pension has been part of this bill—to acknowledge that and its amendments—will go some way towards acknowledging in particular the contribution of Pacific servicemen and servicewomen who have served faithfully and who wish to retire back in their Pacific nations.Under that special portability arrangement for people to return the arrangement is that after 10 years there is 50 percent eligibility for their pension and after 20 years there is 100 percent eligibility. So the payment for special portability is more generous than for general portability. One thing about the 5 years after 50 rule aspect of the arrangement and one of the reasons why that becomes important—and I want to touch on three—is that first of all this is equitable for all New Zealanders irrespective of who has gone overseas. When you have been overseas and you have decided to come back and retire at home you are still eligible under this criterion. In other words you must still serve your 5 years. This is not discriminating against our Pacific brothers and sisters and those who are under the Realm and I think that is really important.The second thing that I think is also important to consider is the arrangement with other countries where there is a special social security agreement. There is a reciprocal arrangement financially that those countries can pay back. So there is an issue here and the reasons we considered in the committee and the advice that was given is that there is a reciprocal arrangement that can be made with those other countries. In those Pacific nations in particular they are not able to make that financial contribution or reciprocate that financially and hence the reason why we think this legislation is important. We believe that the bill is actually equitable. We believe that the bill gives consideration to the special arrangement and we believe that that is critically important for what we are doing to try to achieve that. We know that the costs are achievable for us. If we were to remove that not only would it be inequitable for other New Zealanders who still have to obey the 5 years after 50 rule but also it would mean that it opens up quite a precedent for us that could actually broaden both the cost and the ability to be able to administer that back in the Pacific as well.I round off my speech by saying that it is a privilege to be able to speak on this bill. I look forward to it going through the Committee stage. We believe that we have struck the right balance for the acknowledgment of the special arrangement with the Realm of New Zealand nations. I commend this bill to the House.