Henare Tau: Real Estate Agents Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Henare Tau: Real Estate Agents Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:649;Page:18413] 
Hon TAU HENARE (National) 
: 
 I want to have a look at clauses 43 44 and 45 in Part 3. Clause 43 “Duty to produce evidence of issue of licence” states: “A licensee must if asked by any person produce for inspection by that person either—(a) the evidence of the issue of a licence sent to that person under section 41; or (b) a copy of that evidence.” 
Does that mean if I am employed by Barfoot and Thompson and I am walking down the road somebody can ask to see my licence? Is that what it means? I wonder whether the Minister could turn his mind to maybe answering that question. It seems to me that it is a bit like the regime they had in South Africa where one could be walking down the road and somebody would ask in a South African accent—which I will not even try to do—to see one’s pass to see one’s licence to be there. That is what this clause means. That is exactly what it means. 
Charles Chauvel 
: Good point! 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Mr Chauvel says that it is a good point then shakes his head. It is no wonder these guys are on their way out. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Marian Hobbs) 
: We are debating Part 3. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: I am just responding to an interjection from the other side of the Chamber. I was on track. [ 
Interruption 
] 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Marian Hobbs) 
: We were going along very quietly. On we go. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Thank you Madam Chair for bringing the Government members back to order. Fancy having to produce one’s licence! We have licences for driving cars which the police have the power to look at any time day or night when one is in a car or whatever. But fancy anybody from Joe Public upwards downwards and sideways having the ability to stop a person and ask where his or her real estate licence is. That is what clause 43 does. That is exactly what clause 43 does. 
The term of the licence continues in force for a period of 12 months. Well what happens if somebody is late in getting relicensed? I have looked through Part 3 and it has no reference to somebody who is late in getting relicensed. The bill talks about the cancellation of a licence the renewal of a licence and the expiry of a licence but nowhere does it tell us what happens when somebody unfortunately misses the renewal date. We have all been guilty now and then of missing the date on which we have to get some paperwork in. I wonder whether the Minister can turn his head to that issue. 
The interesting clause in Part 3 is clause 45 “Licence may not be transferred”. How stupid is that? Of course it cannot be transferred. Can we transfer our own driver’s licence? No. Can we transfer any other sort of licence? I tell members that it is actually easier to get a gun licence than it is to get a real estate agent’s licence. There will not be a real estate agent left in this country if the Government has its way. But here is the doozy: clause 51 “Renewal of licence”. I commented briefly yesterday about the same issue. Subclause (1) states: “An application for renewal of a licence must before the date on which the licence expires—(a) be made to the Registrar in the prescribed form; and”—here is the little doozy—“(b) be accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any).” Why is it that for the last 9 years this Government has been intent on putting the word “fee” behind everything it does?