Martin TraceyHon TRACEY MARTIN (NZ First): Kia ora Madam Chair Williams. Thank you very much for the call. I rise on behalf of New Zealand First to support the Rates Rebate (Retirement Village Residents) Amendment Bill and I thank the member Ruth Dyson for continuing to support the bill through the House and for bringing it to the House's attention in the first instance.I want to pick up on some of the comments by the members of the Opposition around the rates rebate about recognising that it's targeted support for those that are in need and so on and about why this bill is so important. But can I just read firstly just a small quote from the Auckland Council's website around rates rebates because it's of value. Property rates rebate thresholds"—because I want to be clear about the thresholds that are required here. "The income threshold is $24790 per year but you may still be eligible if you earn more than that. Additional income allowance for dependents is $500 per dependent." That's $24790 per year per one individual. Now can I be clear that this affects more women than it does anybody else. There are more women who are living alone and having to pay these expenses just because they tend to live longer. "You [may] need to provide evidence of income to assess your eligibility and the amount of your rebate." So it's just not a given. That's the other thing I think we need to recognise—there is a process by which you have to prove eligibility to get the rebate.I also just wanted to make sure that we pointed out—and these are some of the building costs that we are seeing in today's environment for our older citizens—that in Franklin and Rodney for example when the rates rebate was originally introduced they didn't have water rates. That was part of their general rate. Since they have been pulled into Auckland City that has been separated out. Their rates have not dropped. Their rates have continued to go up and this affects those that are living inside those brand new retirement villages now in Franklin and also inside of Rodney and Warkworth. On top of the standard general rate for which they can gain a rebate they now have water rates.Because it's been raised about how this is a subsidy for some I wanted to point out that the average rate in let's say Warkworth in Auckland is $2618 per year. The maximum rebate that anybody—a single individual generally a woman on $24790 per year—can get is $620. That's $12 a week. This is a support. This is a reaching out and a recognition by this Parliament that this is a support that our older citizens need. Nobody is denying that there are other citizens in different situations and tomorrow we're going to see an announcement by this Government to actually support those other citizens in their circumstances and in ways that are meaningful for them. But one of the other things—[Interruption] Well it's Thursday tomorrow isn't it? I'm pretty sure you knew that Mr O'Connor.But one of the other things that I think is important is that once we've addressed this—and this has been an issue for our older citizens for a very long time—one of the other things we have is actually that rates rebuilt threshold; that's $24790 per year. What we've had is we've had rates increasing through the roof. We've had the superannuation attached to the Consumers Price Index—thank you very much New Zealand First—at 66 percent. Those two things have continued to go up but the threshold has not gone up at the same counter. And it will affect the citizens inside of these retirement villages over the next few years. As their superannuation has continued to increase—and let's remember that their water rates have increased their food has increased and their power has increased which is why their winter energy payment is going to be so important when we announce it tomorrow—the threshold has not increased at the same level. So somebody three years ago might have got $500 for the whole of the year but this year will get nothing.So there is another thing to address and while I absolutely applaud the Hon Ruth Dyson for picking up on this issue which is an issue there is another issue that needs to be addressed. I don't think this will be the last time that we are discussing rates rebates in this term of Parliament. But look New Zealand First endorses this bill. Thank you very much for giving it your attention and we look forward to supporting it through all stages."