Hipango HareteHARETE HIPANGO (National—Whanganui): This is a split call Mr Speaker and I believe that I'll be one of the last speakers to address the House in the first reading of this bill where there's been so much impassioned debate exchanged this evening. The bill the Immigration (International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy) Amendment Bill—it's been suggested that it ought to be rebranded as the Tourist Tax Bill" but what I would share with the Government members in the House across from where I'm standing is that we have the brand of the tiaki promise. Mr Speaker as you and the members in the House well know this is a commitment of care to New Zealand. Well I put it to the House this evening that this bill could be rebranded the "Tiaki Promise Tax Bill". So as we know this bill amends the Immigration Act. We've heard debate in the House this evening that this is a tax levy or a tax that's taking its toll on the tourist our international visitor to this country. In the discussions that I've had with some of the tourist operators some are of mixed views around whether the levy is going to be of any direct benefit to them as to how the distribution of this levy would come about and back into the pockets and the pukus of our people in the community. The community that I come from Wanganui is an isolated tourist region and our operators struggle there. It's unknown and there's definitely no certainty indicated in the bill as to how there will be the distribution of this levy back to our tourist operators.So in the short time that I do have to address the House—undoubtedly this levy is another tax that is imposed by the most transparent Government that has indicated and stated quite clearly right from the taking of its term and right throughout the tenure of its office that it is the most transparent and accountable Government. Well regrettably that transparency and accountability in terms of the administration of this tax levy is not stated in this bill and that will be debated further at another stage of the reading. The key message that has been heard is really: how is this going to benefit the New Zealand economy? It's known that there's a $16.2 billion contribution from tourism which is our biggest exporter. It's also known that there's no denying the pressures that will be put on our visitor infrastructure with the growth and the expansion of the tourist industry and also the pressure that's going to be put on the economy in terms of the uncertainty. It's been heard in this House this evening that the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment with their analysis has indicated quite clearly that with the calculations that have been done there is an uncertainty about the returns that would come and the question around whether or not such a tax levy imposition is going to keep international visitors from our borders. It's also known in terms of the calculations that the $35 levy undoubtedly could bring in a $70 million injection but also undoubtedly the potential of reduced numbers coming into the country. So as I said this is a brief call that's been taken. This Government has in terms of branding our tourism industry with the tiaki promise—undoubtedly that is a promise about caring for our people and our spaces and our visitors but this is a Government that is caring to tax in spaces and places that are unnecessary. It is only a matter of time as to telling the toll this will take on our tourism industry. I do not commend and support this bill but it will go through to a second reading as is well known. We will continue to debate the fact that there is very little merit in this being brought into our tourist economy and industry. Kia ora Mr Speaker."