Cosgrove Clayton: Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCosgrove Clayton: Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 17 March 2016. Volume:712;Page:9904. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour): Like others I stand to support this bill. I think we should be incredibly proud of New Zealand’s wine industry. It lines up with many of the products and services that we export.I have spent quite a bit of time in the United States and a number of people will talk about New Zealand wines when they know you are a Kiwi. I remember in Washington DC last time I was over I wandered into the Safeway that is a few hundred yards from the embassy and looked for the New Zealand wines—I think it might be a few hundred yards closer now that Tim Groser is there but however. There were three Americans standing there looking for New Zealand wine and when they heard the accent—not that I am an expert; I know how to buy it but I am not an expert on it as others across the House are—they were keen to talk about New Zealand wine and how fantastic it is.This is an important piece of legislation in an intellectual property sense and in a commercial sense both in protecting Brand New Zealand and those brands within the wine sector but also I think in aiding and abetting the continued promotion of New Zealand wines. I want to commend the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Paul Goldsmith. This is a substantial piece of legislation and very important. It is better than his first effort which was the Standards and Accreditation Bill which I know will go down in history as a fantastic piece of legislation. I suspect though that his colleagues and others watching around New Zealand will somehow take greater cognisance of this piece of legislation than the Standards and Accreditation Bill.It is interesting. I know we do have a number of connoisseurs in the House. I know by reputation that Tim Groser will probably be his own geographical indication in Washington DC by the end of his stewardship. He is a man who is well-oaked shall we say—well-oaked—and he has done everything he can throughout his career as a senior diplomat a world-class trade negotiator inventor of many things and many things yet to come—Kris Faafoi: Splitter of the atom.Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE: Splitter of the atom. By the time he finishes as ambassador he will have done probably what no other person can do as a Kiwi internationally in terms of promoting the New Zealand wine and possibly spirits industries.I note that Maggie Barry is also world-renowned in respect of her appreciation of New Zealand wines. I am told she likes a rough red with a touch of bitterness to it. Todd Barclay I am told also had a passion for gooseberry wine occasionally—slightly green and you know yet to mature. And Judith Collins I am also told was very very fond in her younger days of that wonderful New Zealand wine Cold Duck. So was Trevor Mallard but I think that was in a different life. Or was it that sticky wine noble rot? I am not sure.I know that all the jocularity aside—and that proves that I have not imbibed because I would have slurred that particularly complex word—and in all seriousness this is an important piece of legislation. There is a massive contribution made to New Zealand in terms of export dollars and reputation by the wine industry. I know that Philip Gregan has championed the wine industry for many many years and has done a superb job. I remember some interactions with him when I was on the Primary Production Committee many many years ago. He along with others and with the previous speaker Stuart Smith has been at pains to champion the industry and grow it over the years. The wine industry has moved from the days when Grant Robertson was a great Marque Vue guy I think back in his student days—Grant Robertson: Spumante I think you’ll find.Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE: —Spumante—and you had a limited selection when you went into a restaurant. It was sort of white or red and if you were lucky it was sort of medium or strong if you will.Peeni Henare: In a cask.Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE: In a cask or not—or in Mr Faafoi’s case a bladder depending on what polytech he went to. But it has now moved into a world-class industry from Otago. Who would have thought?I lived in Perth for a number of years and I have to say that way back then you could not really beat a Margaret River red—they were pretty good. I have to say as I send the odd bottle over to friends whom I worked with even they would agree that an Otago Pinot is right up there—right up there. I know Mr Barclay has been proving that point for many months since he made it into Parliament. Equally we are known for sauvignon blanc all around the world. Cloudy Bay of course I would argue was probably the flagship brand for that many many years ago and blazed a trail for the wine industry throughout the world.I think there is more that we can do and perhaps more that New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and other Government agencies can do to assist the wine industry to grow especially in the States and in other places. I was recently in Italy talking to a politician and the first thing he said to me was: “Sav blanc—I love your wine.” He had a few bob this guy and he used to import a few cases every year because he loved it so much. When he comes back to New Zealand he enjoys it.Not only is it a great industry and not only is there a bit of fun and humour around it from time to time—even in this place—but I think it actually is a flagship industry for New Zealand. People who go to social functions at our missions and at our embassies are exposed to that. Our diplomatic folk in all seriousness do a lot to promote the industry. It is one of the things that we are known for—little old New Zealand yet again with only 4.5 million people producing a world-class product. The only criticism of it I think is that we do not produce enough for the vast number of people in the world who have come in contact with it enjoyed it and would like to buy more of it.I think this legislation is important to protect those brands. I think it is important in terms of our trading position. I commend all those in that business. It is a risky business. It is a business where you have got to put a lot of capital out you have got to spend a lot of money you have got to do things right and you have got to hope like hell that you have got it right and that the weather does not do you over—[Interruption] speaking of blue duck—and I think it is a superb industry but it is a risky industry. There is a lot of capital put up a lot of risk you have to know what you are doing. You can get it wrong and you can lose your shirt and many people have over the years. So I commend those people who are prepared to guts it up and promote a world-class product and who risk their shirt to grow a business employ people and provide a world-class flagship export product. To those on the other side—last orders.