Peters Winston: Address to Her Excellency the Governor-General 
Peters Winston: Address to Her Excellency the Governor-General 
[Volume:617;Page:13182] 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 I take this opportunity to thank the people of Tauranga and indeed of New Zealand for my party New Zealand First and myself to have the privilege of being here on this great day. This is a country with a proud tradition of 150 years of continuous and stable parliamentary democracy and I do not believe there are more than seven other countries that can make that claim. That has been achieved through our ability to change and adapt to the demands of our evolving nation and through our sometimes-troubled commitment to the institutions of Parliament and what they represent. 
Since Parliament’s inception in 1854 it has been transformed and modified often proudly leading the world in our understanding of both the nature of its role and more important of the role of those who should and could participate. From the creation of the Maori seats in 1867 to the introduction of universal suffrage in 1893 and through to the advent of MMP in 1996 it is worth noting that it was New Zealand—ahead of most other liberal democracies—that evolved into an inclusive participatory democracy. Clearly this country marked its pathway of self-determination when it resisted the temptation to join the Australian colonies as they federated in 1901. As we moved from colonial to dominion status in 1907 and finally shed the apron strings from Britain with the adoption of the Statute of Westminster in 1947 we displayed a cautious but deliberate path towards independence. Like an adolescent approaching adulthood New Zealand forged its own identity and character and Parliament was central to that process. 
Parliament in New Zealand was a forum where great and pressing issues were debated and a forum in which the people’s representatives gathered to engage in decision making for future generations. As a consequence this country had great periods when we led the world. It is therefore sometimes sad when one reflects on that given role of Parliament—the role it has played historically in shaping New Zealand’s future—that a poignant vacuum or void has developed in our once great institution. When one peruses the role of Parliaments in other jurisdictions one finds that where we once led the world we now unfortunately sometimes watch with envy. Where other Parliaments and Congresses hold great debates in which elected representatives utilise all the skills of political rhetoric and intellect garnered through years of crafting and experience we in New Zealand too often revert to predetermined party political positions—but for which I do not blame any particular party. 
It is regrettable for example that on the two great issues confronting New Zealand today—our economic future and race relations—rather than use Parliament as our forum too often we have conducted the debate outside in other forums and through the media. Sometimes we really should ask ourselves this question: when was the last great debate in this House on the economy or on race relations which used words that inspired and uplifted and galvanised and stimulated a nation to action? This is a country built on sound values and on tolerance. It is no coincidence that when the hikoi on the foreshore and seabed arrived at Parliament earlier this month—whatever one’s views might be—one of the defining features of the march was the lack of violence confrontation and unrest. There was no need for the water cannons and riot police that often feature in the protests of other Parliaments. 
We in this House should not be afraid to shed our ideological blinkers. Ideology is after all the outworn language of the 20th and last century. Having entered the 21st century we must reach for a new language—a language that in the tradition of our forebears will allow us to grapple effectively with the issues we confront today. 
We must face facts. We risk becoming the first country in 50 years to fall from First World status to Third World status—or so stated the very respected English publication  
The Economist 
 just 3 short years ago. We will not have Australia talking to us about economic union. No sir! Australia will be negotiating how much aid it will need to send our way each year. What we are saying is that those issues will not be solved through blind ideology. New Zealand though is sadly today witnessing an escalating commitment to defend that failed course of economic action. Meanwhile we are watching as our gross domestic product per capita is compared with other developed nations that a long time back were way below us. We are therefore still continuing to slide. 
We must be confident in our ability to find solutions for these problems as our forebears in this Parliament once did—not from universities but from their own experience and practical understanding of life. We are a nation of small and medium-sized businesses that must export to expand and in order to expand the need for our exports to be trebled is an expedient. Yet the debates of this House are often far too constrained by the parameters and rules that bind ideological thinking. 
In the past one of the things that buttressed New Zealand against the tide of rapidly globalising events was our historical ability to set aside partisan views on issues of national importance in order to reach a consensus across this Chamber about what was best for New Zealand. The fruits of the great debates of the past were to be found in the agreed positions we presented to the world. Although there were always differences of opinion on the fringes of social issues there was always a consensus on the important issues facing our economy and the defence of our borders and traditions. 
Today this fundamental aspect of national development is sadly perhaps too often missing from this House. Other countries understand the value of the simple maxim: there is a need for cross-party support and consensus when addressing major economic and security issues. Other nations debate the details whilst we continue to debate the fundamentals. Any consensus on those issues was shattered I believe in the 1980s and has never been rebuilt. With our nation crying out for consensus on a national savings scheme a national export strategy or a national health strategy—to list but three—we in this House too often instinctively revert to our partisan ways. Those fundamentals of economic strength and their most prominent social dividend will only take root when we return to the tradition of those who preceded us in this House and when we work towards a national consensus. We see a semblance of this in the work of our select committees. We exhibit strength I believe to the rest of the world and to our citizens when we put aside partisan views and do what is best for the New Zealand people. 
So let us leave the ideological shackles that have bound us in the 20th century or at the end of it to the 20th century. In this century let us engage in real debate about the genuine issues confronting our nation. Let us not feel constrained and limited by the ideas of the past. Let us be creative. Let us show ingenuity lateral thinking and a dedication to the best outcome for all New Zealanders because our forebears blazed a trail for us in creating a forum for the free exchange of ideas. In two great passages of our history we led the world in wealth creation and the disbursement of equity and fairness across our population in a way no other nation has been able to achieve before or since. That is part of our noble tradition so let us re-embrace it. Let Parliament again become a forum for great debates which shapes a nation’s great future as it shaped a once-great past. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Green co-leaders are splitting their speeches.