Hutchison Paul: New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans' Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
Hutchison Paul: New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans' Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:631;Page:3514] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Port Waikato) 
: 
 Part 2 particularly refers to amendments to the War Pensions Act 1954 and to other consequential amendments. As we have heard from other members around the Chamber many veterans in this country—over 6000—will be affected by this bill. That is one of the reasons why National is supporting it—because we recognise the tremendous service over many decades that our service people have given for New Zealand. This Parliament is living testimony to the many wonderful deeds of our servicemen and women over the decades. The very least we can do is to increase their entitlements—as this bill will do. What worries me hugely is that the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act was passed by the Labour Government in 2001 Barbara White brought her petition to Parliament in 2002 and Mr Page—through Dr Nick Smith—took his case to the Human Rights Commission in 2004 but only now in 2006 5 years later has the Labour Government woken from its stupor to finally get on with passing this bill. 
My colleague Anne Tolley from East Coast an excellent member of Parliament— 
Lindsay Tisch 
: That she is an excellent member. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON 
:—Yes she is—brought out a very important point relating to the superannuation entitlement period of Volunteer Service Abroad people. Under this bill they have been awarded a period of 3 years’ absence from this country when all they requested at the Social Services Committee apparently was 2 years. I would like Mr Benson-Pope a man of considerable largesse in this case to take a call and explain to the House why that is so for Volunteer Service Abroad people—the over 65s apparently number about 40—who do wonderful work around the world and who were given a hard time in the past because they had to come home within 52 weeks but who now quite appropriately have had the time extended to at least 2 years. 
Hon Marian Hobbs 
: Who in the National Party ever cared about that? Who in the National Party like the great Nick Smith ever cared about the volunteers? Not a soul. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON 
: We wonder what Marian Hobbs is saying. I know she is very sore about the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary because that mean-spirited Labour Government would not support it—and it did nothing about this bill for 5 years. 
We had better get back on track. I ask the Hon Mr Benson-Pope to explain why he has granted largesse over and above what was requested by the Volunteer Service Abroad people but has taken 5 long years to respond to a very significant anomaly affecting many elderly people in New Zealand including veterans. When we think that Mr Page was married for 70 years and then was told that the only way to receive the living alone allowance was to get a divorce—and that was 3 years after the situation had been brought to the attention of the Labour Government—we can understand why National is so concerned about the sensitivities of this almost stuporous Labour Government. Can Mr Benson-Pope explain why he has given largesse to the Volunteer Service Abroad people? It is quite right that they should be granted their request for 2 years but why go to 3 years? Can he tell us how many of them do stay away from New Zealand for 3 years? I would think that very few indeed would do so. 
However the really important thing is that Labour has been so tardy for so long in bringing this bill to the House. We see Mr Benson-Pope sitting there unprepared to answer a very serious point as to why he has not responded for all those years.