Goudie Sandra: Local Government Law Reform Bill — In Committee 
Goudie Sandra: Local Government Law Reform Bill — In Committee 
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SANDRA GOUDIE (National—Coromandel) 
: 
 I would like to compliment all the members on the Opposition side of the Chamber on their sterling effort in opposing this ridiculous legislation. I would like to comment about Gordon Copeland as well. I happened to be at a Federated Farmers meeting that he attended. He said he would not support any exemption from the microchipping of dogs. Now he has done an about-face an about-turn or something. We are not sure what he is doing and I am not sure whether he knows that either. 
I would like to pick up one of the comments of the Minister in the chair Nanaia Mahuta about the national database. In fact we could have had a national database as a result of dog registration that would have served everybody’s purpose—and it is being developed right now—without any microchipping taking place. Some dogs are microchipped already. Some owners voluntarily microchip dogs right now because they want to do it. I have spoken to people who say they will no longer do it if they are being forced. That is what is happening around the country. People feel they are being forced to do something they might have been happy to do voluntarily but certainly they do not want to be forced into. Feral dogs will not be microchipped because more than likely they are not registered. The dogs that are not registered are those most likely not to be microchipped. Those owners will just replace those dogs. If a dog is picked up they will just replace it with another one. So those owners will not get caught at all; they will fall outside the system. 
I want to raise the issue of disability assist dogs. The only reason for their inclusion in this bill is that I introduced a member’s bill in which I provided that epilepsy assist dogs be included in the original disability assist dog category. That would not have happened if it had not been for my member’s bill being drawn out of the ballot; that definition would not have been put into the bill we are debating. I raised the issue with the Minister who was very very slow to act and support Epilepsy New Zealand. Quite frankly that was a gross oversight on the part of the Government and the Minister. I think it shows clearly that the Government is starting to fail the people it purports to represent. It has not supported the disability sector in regard to that matter. 
It is only through the actions of National that the recognition of disability assist dogs has come about. I pay tribute especially to Eric Roy who made some very very good suggestions at the Local Government and Environment Committee which meant some substantial and unanimous changes to the bill. They gave disability assist dogs a new definition and the bill now allows for other disability assist dogs to be included in the legislation by way of an Order in Council. That was a sterling effort on the part of Eric Roy and it brings about a hugely practical and sensible change to the bill. He should be commended and acknowledged for that. 
In so doing I would like to identify an amendment to the legislation that I have put forward. It is to amend section 2 of the Dog Control Act so that we recognise the disability sector some of the constraints it operates under and the fact that funding can be a considerable issue. My amendment calls for at least disability assist dogs to be exempt from microchipping. I exhort all members to give that amendment serious consideration. I ask New Zealand First to support that amendment and support the disability sector in getting an exemption at least for disability assist dogs. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: Did you think of this yourself or did somebody help you? 
SANDRA GOUDIE 
: How heartless the member is to say without even considering the amendment that he would not support it. 
I ask Government members whether they will support disability assist dogs being exempt from microchipping as a way of supporting the disability sector. I see a Government member actually shaking her head. How heartless it is that those members will not even consider supporting the disability sector. 
Colin King 
: Mean-spirited! 
SANDRA GOUDIE 
: It is mean-spirited; the member is absolutely right. But I am sure we will be supported by the Green Party and the Maori Party and certainly my colleagues will support that amendment. I can see a nod of approval from the Green Party. I thank the Green Party for that acknowledgment and I hope it will give the amendment some consideration when it comes before the Committee.