Woolerton R Doug: General Debate 
Woolerton R Doug: General Debate 
[Volume:637;Page:7979] 
R DOUG WOOLERTON (NZ First) 
: 
 The year 2007 is Export Year— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Ha ha! 
R DOUG WOOLERTON 
: It may very well be that Gerry Brownlee would laugh and we would expect him to laugh because we know that he does not care about exports. We know that the National Party does not care about exports and we know that National Party members will laugh because they do not care about farmers. They do not care about farmers and it is about farmers whom I want to speak. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I take deep deep offence at the mistruths and reckless behaviour regarding the truth being exhibited towards me by Mr Woolerton at the present time. I ask that he withdraw and apologise. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I will just say that frivolous objections or points of order designed to break up a speech lead to disorder and are unacceptable to progress in the House. I say to Mr Woolerton that I am sorry but I was distracted with the Clerk at the time. The member has taken offence. I did not hear what was actually said so I am not sure. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: The statement made by Mr Woolerton was about the National Party; it was not about an individual member sitting on that side of the House. Therefore I know that under the Standing Orders offence cannot be taken by an individual as a result. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Thank you very much. The member will continue. 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: Mr Speaker— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Mr Williamson I have already spoken about frivolous objections. 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: Yes I am very clear. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: If I am not happy with this then Mr Woolerton will start his speech again. 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: I can tell you now very clearly and I am happy to go on the record and I am happy to go before the Privileges Committee that Mr Woolerton singled out Gerry Brownlee by name. He said that Gerry Brownlee does not care about farmers if you check the tape. I think Mr Woolerton will have the grace to say that he did actually say “Gerry Brownlee”. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Whether it is seen as a personal reflection is another matter. The reality is that members make disparaging remarks about each other all of the time. It is when offence is taken at a personal reflection that members are actually asked to withdraw. Is the member taking personal offence? [ 
Interruption 
] He is. I ask the member to withdraw. 
R DOUG WOOLERTON 
: Mr Speaker I am— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I ask the member to withdraw please. 
R DOUG WOOLERTON 
: Mr Speaker I am happy to withdraw. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Thank you. 
R DOUG WOOLERTON 
: Thank you Mr Speaker and I appreciate your protection from bullies. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There are a couple of things. The first point is I think it was inappropriate for you to suggest that some frivolous activity was going on here when we have just been through the absolute debacle led by Michael Cullen a few minutes before. Secondly if Mr Woolerton is to withdraw and apologise he should stand do just that and then recommence his speech. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Thank you Mr Brownlee. Can I say—[ 
Interruption 
] No can I just say that I asked Mr Woolerton to withdraw. The member will withdraw and continue. 
R DOUG WOOLERTON 
: Thank you Mr Speaker. As I said I appreciate your protection from bullies—I really do—and I think you are doing a marvellous job in the Chair. 
It is obvious that the National Party is going to filibuster but we will rely on the public to make a judgment on that. As I said before 2007 is Export Year and New Zealand First is very proud because it is one of our initiatives. 
 We need world-class companies in this country. We need companies that have world-class products. We have one in Fonterra. It has been built up over many many years by farmers in this country. This company is at the leading edge of exporting in this country. It is at the leading edge of products worldwide. New Zealand First is passionate about companies such as Fonterra and about the fact that the ownership of such companies should stay in New Zealand hands—and in this case in farmers’ hands. 
About a month ago I responded to an article in the  
New Zealand Herald 
 
written by an Auckland academic that said one of the options Fonterra was looking at in a capital restructuring programme it was considering was to list the company in part or in whole on the New Zealand sharemarket. The gentleman said that if that were to be so Fonterra would be lost to the farmers of New Zealand. In a press release I responded that I agreed with him and that I believed that if that company was listed it would be lost to farmers. After that press release was put out I had a ring from the Fonterra chairman who said he believed I was confusing the farmers and my comments were not helpful. I have greater faith in New Zealand farmers than he does obviously. I know that farmers can work out what they should do with their company. I believe that farmers understand that if Fonterra was listed it would be lost to them and I believe that the directors of Fonterra should desist from going down the path of listing Fonterra on the stock market in part or indeed in whole. It is not necessary for Fonterra to go down that path. This is the biggest company in New Zealand; it is our most innovative company and it is essential to the health of this country. 
I am not standing up here just waffling on about a little issue that is of some concern locally. This is of vital interest to the country. I do not believe that the Fonterra board has the interests of farmers at heart if it could even consider listing this company on the stock market in part or in whole. I challenge the Fonterra directors and the chairman to come out and say how they will keep that company in farmers’ hands if indeed they do list it. They have said they are passionate about keeping the company in New Zealand farmers’ hands that ownership will not be an issue and that it will not be allowed to go into the hands of financiers and takeover artists. 
We know that it is impossible for that to happen and I challenge the directors of Fonterra to tell New Zealand and their farmer shareholders how they will accomplish that feat. We have watched over the years company after company of iconic standing in this country go to overseas owners—many of them to Australia and many of them to American and English owners.