Henare Tau: Land Transport (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Henare Tau: Land Transport (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Hon TAU HENARE (National) 
: 
 I rise in support of the Land Transport (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. One of the reasons—in fact the only reason—is the number of young people killed on our roads every year. It is not just the act of losing a young vibrant life; it is what that loss does to a family to the community to the school to the university and to that young person’s place of employment. It has such an effect on those around the victim and it leaves such a hole in their lives. 
I for one think that we have an opportunity to try to do something as our road policy says. Our road strategy is called Safer Journeys. It is about me as a person wanting to travel on our roads without the fear of something happening that is out of my control due to bad driving a person under the influence or what have you. So I am absolutely in favour of the measures set out in the bill and I cannot wait until it gets to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee and we hold our hearings on it. I think we will find that yes there is an issue over the fact that one side believes that the blood-alcohol limit is too high and needs to come down. I think we will find that most people around the country believe that for young new drivers there should be a zero limit. They just should not get into cars when they have been drinking. The country also believes that a 0.05 limit is going a wee bit close to saying that the limit should be zero. So I think that allowing— 
David Shearer 
: It doesn’t say that. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Sorry? 
David Shearer 
: The surveys are that 66 percent of people support— 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Is the member going to take a call? I think that the member should have taken a call if he really feels passionate about— 
David Shearer 
: I will. I am. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Good. We will wait for his pearls of wisdom. 
It is imperative that we set out a schedule of things—or to use the buzzwords and all of that jargon milestones or key indicators—that young people should reach before they get their licences. Getting a licence these days is one of the biggest steps that we allow our young people to take. I think that 90 percent of young people out there are good drivers and responsible drivers. But it is the 10 percent or so who create havoc. There is havoc not only for them but also for the rest of the drivers and the community. 
I am passionate about the effects that drink-driving and poor driving habits have on our community. I have been part of it and I have seen bodies lined up on the marae aged 18 19 and 20. People say that that is a tragedy and a waste; I say that a tragedy and a waste sometimes cannot be avoided but this sort of stuff can be. You know it is not as if it is an act of God. This sort of stuff—this carnage—can be sorted out and one of the ways to do that is what we are doing here. 
In conclusion I tell the House again that I cannot wait until the bill comes to our select committee. I think that the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee is a good select committee and I am sure that we will have a bit of fun with the legislation as well. Kia ora.