Gudgeon Bill: Prostitution Reform Bill — In Committee 
Gudgeon Bill: Prostitution Reform Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:608;Page:5206] 
BILL GUDGEON (NZ First) 
: 
 Members in this Committee today need to know that New Zealand First opposes this bill as proposed by Mr Barnett. Prostitution irrespective of whether it is decriminalised or legalised is always incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person and endangers the welfare of the individual the family and the community. My entry into Parliament was stabilised by my swearing-in on the Bible and paying allegiance to the Queen to my country and to my God. It seems to me that this Parliament pays no respect to our God the creator of all things on this earth for if it did this bill would not be before us today. 
Many many parents work on creating an exciting atmosphere in their homes. They let their children be exposed to great minds and great ideas to everlasting truth and to those things that build and motivate for good. Where in this bill—I repeat: where in this bill—is there any motivation to do good positive and wholesome activities? I am astonished when I hear members utter words to the effect that they would not be happy to have their daughters involved with prostitution and then turn round and support this bill. That goes beyond my comprehension. 
Yes we are living in a so-called democratic society where we are all free to choose to petition and to demonstrate within the laws of the land. But let me remind us all that there is a consequence to the choices we make. In my inaugural speech to the House I stated the precepts of Plato that we should forget personal interests and aim at the public advantage making that the object of all our efforts. How will this bill advantage the public and the individual? I do not know whether those who subscribe to this bill understand what the word “wrong” means. To that end I say that if this bill is passed—and I hope and pray that it is not—then we in this Parliament will be held accountable by a higher law for the corruption the immorality and the decaying of our society and if we are not careful for the collapse of this nation. 
I advocate to my fellow parliamentarians that this bill is not right for the social structure of our nation and its people. I say to those who are in the throes of introducing amendments that their amendments just gloss over the facts and they will never hide the true picture. So let us get real and put our feet on the ground. I implore us all to consider honestly what the outcomes of this legislation will be. We should think about the repercussions that will eventuate from this legislation and about the effects it will have on our families and on society. Those who vote for this bill will be held responsible for the degradation and collapse of family structure which good people are endeavouring to keep together in an unstable world. 
This afternoon on the steps of Parliament representatives from the Labour New Zealand First and United Future parties accepted petitions from many marae throughout the country led by Mr Monty Ohia. Let me say this: the majority of Maori are against this bill and they have expressed their reasons for that very clearly. Kei te pouri i roto i taku ngakau i tenei wa na te mea etahi o tatou kei te poti mo te pire nei. I am sad within my heart that some of us are voting for this bill. I nga wa o mua mai ra ano i te hekenga mai o nga waka ki Aotearoa kaore nga matua tipuna i aua wa e tautoko ana ki nga mahi kawau. Our ancestors before and since their arrival in Aotearoa have never supported prostitution.