Henare Peeni: Tariff (Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the Republic of Korea) Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHenare Peeni: Tariff (Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the Republic of Korea) Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 16 June 2015. Volume:706;Page:4420. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]PEENI HENARE (Labour—Tāmaki Makaurau): Tēnā koe Mr Assistant Speaker. Thank you for the opportunity to take a call on this particular bill the Tariff (Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the Republic of Korea) Amendment Bill the free-trade agreement between New Zealand and the Republic of Korea otherwise known as South Korea. Our country has a proud history of trade. Many in this House have already touched on it and I think about my ancestors from the far north who as early as the 1820s and 1830s were already taking goods offshore and selling them to markets in Australia and also as far abroad as Europe. It is a reality of the global economy and it is a 21st century reality now that in order for our country to remain competitive in global stakes trade agreements are a necessary part of that. Can I congratulate members on what sounds like a pretty robust and strong process that went through the select committee process—many across the House have congratulated each other and also the officials on the information the reports and documents provided to the select committee and to the members across all parts of the House on this particular bill.We in the Labour Party support this amendment bill at the first stage at the first reading and my colleagues on this side of the House who have spoken already—and one is yet to speak—clearly have a heck of a lot more understanding about these types of agreements. I want to support and acknowledge their expertise in this particular field. Labour is about free trade. I have already mentioned that it is a global reality of the 21st century and it is important that we are across these particular agreements whether they be made with South Korea or with any other country. I believe that in order for these types of trade agreements to be fair it is important that public dialogue is considered. We have heard mention today about the advice given by officials.I want to pick up on a point made by my colleague the Hon Phil Goff about the need for appropriate dissemination of information regarding this free-trade agreement. I mention the word “appropriate” because we know and it has already been mentioned that it is important you do not put all of your cards on the table. But what is important is that the New Zealand public are fully engaged and that the New Zealand public are well aware of these types of agreements. Mr Goff mentioned too the marches that have happened across the country marching against the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Some of the scaremongering that goes on can quite easily be allayed by appropriate discourse between this House and of course the New Zealand public.The value of total trade imports into South Korea is in the vicinity of approximately $490 billion. We support growing our markets worldwide. Although New Zealand is slow in getting our engagement with South Korea we already note that we follow in the footsteps of Australia—and it is not lightly that I mention that; nobody in this country likes following in the footsteps of an Australian. It is important that we recognise that we are actually quite late to the table. It is important when we sit down and work out these trade agreements that we can maximise the benefit for us and also protect our markets. I just want to point out one of the particular exports from this country that will do well and I make mention of Zespri and the kiwifruit market. I say that because I currently sit on a trust board and we have kiwifruit orchards. We are quite excited about the growth of our product and the marketing of it offshore. We can guarantee them that the kiwifruit growing in our orchard is of the highest quality.But there are some concerns and they have been mentioned. As a Māori whenever the word “sovereignty” is used everyone gets nervous and the country holds its breath. It is important to note that and I go back to my point around the dissemination of information out amongst the public and the engagement of the public on these particular matters so that the fears around sovereignty that are raised by this can be allayed. Also there is the commitment to prevent foreign investments in property in this country. We are sad that a full commitment has not been made. Australia has done it to look after themselves. Why have we not done it to look after ourselves and our property here in New Zealand? Kia ora.