Davis Kelvin: Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill — In Committee 
Davis Kelvin: Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:668;Page:15113] 
KELVIN DAVIS (Labour) 
: 
 I know that we are talking about Part 6 but I have to get this off my chest—it comes down to what Jacqui Dean said about Labour not supporting rugby. What she said is ridiculous. I bet anything that Jacqui Dean is one of those chardonnay supporters who are there just for the moment. I bet you anything that Jacqui Dean did not get up at 3 o’clock in the morning on Saturday to watch New Zealand versus England. I bet you she has not cried herself to sleep. 
Craig Foss 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I am just interested that the member is trying to wager bets with you as Chair. He kept saying: “I bet you that x y z.” I do not think that is appropriate. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: Thank you. I am a betting man and I took it in good faith. 
KELVIN DAVIS 
: I will bet anybody that Jacqui Dean has not cried herself to sleep every night since 27 October 1991 the day that we lost our world champion title to Australia in Dublin. To say that Labour does not support rugby and does not support the Rugby World Cup is an absolute joke. I bet anybody in this Chamber anybody in this country that we know more about any form of rugby or any sort of situation around rugby than that member. A true supporter knows stuff about rugby that nobody else does. I ask that member to name the All Black lock who in 1979 scored the only try for the All Blacks at Twickenham. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: We are on Part 6. 
KELVIN DAVIS 
: Yes Mr Chair; I just had to get that off my chest because as a rugby fanatic I do not think there is anybody in National who cares about rugby more than I do. 
I come to Part 6. As Chris Hipkins said the Governor-General may by Order in Council and on the recommendation of the Minister make regulations. That is the part of this bill that we are upset about. It is the unfettered power of the Minister that we are concerned about. To say we do not support rugby because we are challenging this part of the bill is absolutely ridiculous. The Labour Party has had great discussions and has allowed some members to vote one way and some members to vote the other way and that is democracy in action—something of course that that party on the other side of the Chamber would not have a clue about. 
Jacqui Dean 
: Which way did you vote? 
KELVIN DAVIS 
: I voted for it; in support OK? 
Jacqui Dean 
: Who was against? 
KELVIN DAVIS 
: Look it does not really matter who was for and who was against. What matters is that we are concerned that the Minister has unfettered powers—[ 
Interruption 
] 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: We do not want that dialogue—it is not relevant to Part 6. 
KELVIN DAVIS 
: Thank you Mr Chair. We have a concern that the Minister has unfettered powers to override the Rugby World Cup Authority. The Labour Party supports rugby and supports the Rugby World Cup. In our party we are allowed to have robust debate and discussion and on this issue we voted as we saw it. Some supported it some were against and some abstained. The Labour Party is right behind the Rugby World Cup. We have given it a lot of thought and consideration. 
As someone mentioned earlier Helen Clark flew over to Dublin—the city where the All Blacks lost in 1991—and because of her contribution and her support for Tana Umaga and the rest of the Kiwi contingent this wonderful event will happen in New Zealand next year. It will be a great thing for New Zealand. It will put us on the world stage. But we do have to be concerned about this issue and it is right that Labour as a party has challenged parts throughout this bill to make sure that everything goes right during the Rugby World Cup. 
I finish my contribution by challenging Jacqui Dean and the National Government to come up with any evidence that they support rugby and the Rugby World Cup more than the Labour Party. Members of the Labour Party are true fanatics and true supporters of our national game not chardonnay supporters such as Jacqui Dean.