Rurawhe AdrianAGNES LOHENI (National): Thank you Mr Speaker. I rise in support of this bill and it's unfortunate that members of the Government have taken this opportunity to undermine the character of my colleague Hamish Walker during this debate. I would like to commend Hamish in using his voice his platform to advocate for foster kids. So I'm pleased to be on the Social Services and Community Committee. So during the course of this bill we received 19 submissions. One of the submissions to me that really highlights the selflessness of this issue—and also I think it was my colleague Alfred who spoke of the spirit of generosity—was a submission by a caregiver Sheryl Blythen. If I just quote from her submission I know it's impractical for me to expect to be able to be involved in these children's lives until they become adults and beyond. But the one thing I could do while they were in my care to help them in the future is contribute a lump sum I could afford to a Kiwisaver account."So I had no idea before this issue came to light before me on the select committee that this was an issue for these kids for these foster parents for the foster kids; the numerous hurdles that they face the brick walls that get up that put barriers in their way. To do something selfless which can provide long-term benefits to their foster child; it's an act of love for that foster child—caring for them. It's a child that they have not a long-term connection with. So I think that is particularly generous for these foster parents to want to be able to do that for that child. I was even more surprised at what appeared to be a very reasonable request by the member Hamish—an issue which relates to equity for these children—would be met by such resistance during the passage of this bill.I support this bill because ultimately 500 more foster kids will have access to a KiwiSaver account and that's a good thing. Of course it would've been better if we could've made that happen for the remaining 5500 foster kids where this bill won't reach. So I was disappointed that Labour New Zealand First and the Green Party voted down Hamish's Supplementary Order Paper which did seek to ultimately bring his intent closer in line with this bill. A KiwiSaver account is something that we all take for granted in this House. Everyone is automatically signed up when they start working. So I just want to comment on one of the comments from the other side today in the debate around the erosion of guardian rights. Well actually if those guardians were in the lives of these kids those guardians could actually open a KiwiSaver account for these children. The issue is that they're not. So they're in the day-to-day care of the foster parents.Several submitters raised concerns and it was also raised by member Greg O'Connor about short-term foster parents not being the ones best placed to give long-term financial support for that foster child. My response to that is what does it matter if that foster parent is in there short-term long-term? Where is the risk in having someone who has an opportunity to open up this store for these foster kids? I've not really heard a good explanation of where that risk lies because as we all know in this House only the foster kid—as they get older—can actually access that account. No one is forcing a foster parent to contribute to the KiwiSaver account. It's just an opportunity to have something there in future for that child.So I'm sorry that the member Hamish Walker couldn't get the full intent of his member's bill realised here today. I understand that Oranga Tamariki has indicated that it will review its procedures and so hopefully that does happen so that we can get that door open for the remaining 5500 children. Thank you Mr Speaker.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): I call Ginny Andersen—five minutes."