Henare Tau: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — Second Reading Procedure In Committee 
Henare Tau: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — Second Reading Procedure In Committee 
[Volume:657;Page:6358] 
Hon TAU HENARE (National) 
: 
 I thank the Speaker for giving me the call. 
Hon George Hawkins 
: Cross the floor! Come on! 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: I love it when the Opposition members get on their high horse and tell me to cross the floor. In all my years in Parliament not once have I seen that so-called principled stance from Labour members. Not one of them has got up— 
Phil Twyford 
: How many parties have you been a member of? 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: It does not matter bozo. Bring it on! This is the most condescending—[ 
Interruption 
] Kia ora whaea. I must admit that I made a mistake. The only courageous woman in the Labour Party was Tariana Turia. She crossed the floor. I admit my mistake. 
I am sick to death of hearing the condescending attitude from the so-called liberals of the nation. Labour members stand in the Chamber and twaddle on about what they will do and what Supplementary Order Papers they will bring on the bill. Not once in the 9 years when Labour was in Government did it ever move to have Maori representation—not once. Labour members run round Len Brown like he is the big bee. They think Len Brown will fix the problem so they will support him. Where was Len Brown in the Manukau City Council? Where was Bob Harvey in the Waitakere City Council? In fact where was Andrew Williams in the North Shore City Council? Labour members’ talking about delivering Maori seats is a load of old cobblers. At least I went to my caucus. At least I put up the issues. OK I might have lost but some say that is democracy. Some say: “OK you took a hit. You lost the issue.” Well at least I faced it and I did not muck around the mulberry bush either. I did not use people to back myself up like the Labour Party does. Not once— 
Kelvin Davis 
: Take a sip Tau. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: We hear from Mr Davis who grew up in the Far North. 
Carol Beaumont 
: A fine member. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: A fine member when we can find him. 
Phil Twyford 
: Because you’re so high profile Tau! 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Absolutely. I have a profile; I do not need to hunt a profile. I want to say about the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee— 
Kelvin Davis 
: Talk about this issue! 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Absolutely; not the Fabian rubbish that I hear from Mr Twyford. The select committee did a good job. It did a wonderful job. In fact most of the members on the committee attended most days—except Mr Jones. But that could have been for other reasons. When we went to the three marae we made it quite clear that yes we were there to listen but we were not there to promise anything. 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: It’s what you want to do anyway. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Pardon me? Who said that? Which girl was that? OK it was Twyford. It was Twyford. But we did go out to our people and say to them— 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Put your teeth in! 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: I could tell that member where to put hers! At least we went and talked to our people. Then I hear from the Labour Party that it is as if there were no Maori seats. It was as if the Maori seats had been taken away. But we have never had Maori seats in local government under a Labour Government or a National Government in the last 150 years. I tell members opposite not to get up on their hind legs and try to take the moral high ground. Why do I say that? Because it does not wash. The people of Auckland the vast majority of Auckland will be quite happy with the super-city. They will be quite happy with one mayor and 20 councillors. They will be quite happy to get on and see a vision that takes Auckland to where it should be not where it has been for the last 20-odd years. In closing— 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Painful to listen to! 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: That is typical from the Fabians on the other side of the House—the eugenicists. But that is another story. Maori will continue regardless of what happens on the super-city. Maori will continue to fight for what they believe in regardless of what the Labour Party does or what the National Government does. 
Phil Twyford 
: What a pathetic justification! 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Pathetic? Maoris are pathetic? 
Phil Twyford 
: You’re making excuses. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: No we are a great people because we fight regardless of the numbers and regardless of what the liberals say. There is always a fight there for Maoris. When Maoris fight they fight because it is about their families and what they have always fought for. Regardless of what happens Maoris will always be there the next day the next day and the next day fighting for what they have always fought for. 
Phil Twyford 
: You’re apologising aren’t you? 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Oh yes absolutely. I apologise for not being able to win the argument. But that is what it is all about; it is about numbers. 
Phil Twyford 
: You’re apologising for your party. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: No I do not apologise for my party. I apologise to my people for losing the debate and losing the argument. If that is a sin then I have sinned once too many times. I will say this: it was a great opportunity to hear what Auckland sought for its vision. I think we have delivered some way on that vision—not all the way—and it will be up to Auckland in the years to come to determine what true vision it wants.