Davidson ReubenREUBEN DAVIDSON (Labour—Christchurch East): Thank you Mr Speaker and thank you for the opportunity to speak against the repeal of the Business Payment Practices Act 2023. Aotearoa New Zealand is a nation of small businesses. Many of us in this House on both sides will have worked and maybe even owned our own small businesses. Many of the people we are elected to represent will own or work in small businesses. Now the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment tells us—and other members of this House have been good enough to point this out—that there are more than half a million small businesses in New Zealand. That's classed as a business with fewer than 20 employees—so that's 97 percent of the businesses in New Zealand. So in its simplest form this is a bill that makes sure 3 percent of businesses provide information to make it easier for the other 97 percent to do business and importantly to stay in business. It sounds good to me. Another thing we know for sure is that late payments cripple cash flow and that that can and does kill small business. So members you don't have to take my word for it because in the heart of our electorate of Christchurch East is Kai Connoisseurs proudly at home amongst the local businesses of Aranui in Hampshire Street. It's a real small business and I can recommend Frybread Frydays. If you're ever down there get on in—the best fry bread in the east—and don't even get me started on their dumplings. We are so lucky to have this small business in Aranui. Now owner Sachiko Shimamoto recently shared her experience of the impacts of being made to wait for payment and I will share some of her words here: A little snippet of my journey in business titled: You're late. I sat and stared at the screen in disbelief. It was Monday the 22nd January and they still hadn't paid. I clicked into gmail and typed the first few letters of their name and found the last email I'd sent. 15 was the number in the little circle that counted how many times we'd communicated back and forth; but that wasn't all. Right under that was the three other threads of comms regarding that particular event. Deep breath it's ok they're probably still on holiday. I clicked into the banking app to cross check the payments again nope definitely not there. My heart began to pound as frustration tickled my eyeballs and made my hands sweat. The same hands that picked out the yummiest grapes that buttered the bread just right and rostered the staff that came to help chop dice and slice all the kai they happily consumed; all those months ago. The worst part is they are not the only ones. Over the years others have done the same. Currently 3 is the number of ghosts I'm chasing. Ouch the pounding turned to aching as I clicked back into xero and began to process the pay run. Carrying these debts is heavy. … Could I of spent more time communicating our terms and conditions should I of asked for payment prior should I of spent so much time accommodating their multiple requests changes and enquiries … Running a business is hard. Being an employer is hard. Paying for kai staff rent and the rest; is hard; and spending my time asking to be paid over and over for mahi we've already done well that's ho-hard! …This is a letter to organisations and corporates using small local business to provide services that support your kaupapa then forget to support them back. Please prioritise paying your bills. … Signed: A tired hard working solo Māmā business owner employer and hoha human who's had about enough of asking politely for what we are owed." If those words don't have an impact I suggest members should check out the full post on Facebook and see the photo of an exhausted business owner sitting on the floor of her kitchen waiting to be paid. Small businesses need the support of legislation like this. As members of Parliament as representatives of our communities I want to be able to walk in and enjoy Frybread Fryday at Kai Connoisseurs knowing I've done all in this House to help businesses like this. They need to know that they can do business and be paid so that they can pay their people and their bills so that they can stay in business and this repeal makes that harder."