Woodhouse Michael: Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Woodhouse Michael: Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 09 May 2012. Volume:679;Page:2126. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) 
: 
 Thank you for that Nostradamus-like faux pas Mr Chairman. It is my great pleasure to give just a broad overview of the Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill and to perhaps remind the Committee of the long gestation that we have had in coming to this point. The bill was introduced and then drawn from the members’ ballot in the name of my friend and colleague the Hon Amy Adams. I want to acknowledge her not only for her initiative in bringing this bill before the House and now the Committee but also for her rapid progress into Cabinet which of course prevents her from progressing the bill further.  
The bill had its first reading as long ago as December 2009 and having been referred to the Commerce Committee for its consideration that committee reported back in March of— 
Sitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. 
MICHAEL WOODHOUSE 
: During the dinner hour I hosted a function. Members may notice that I am wearing the bright orange gerbera which is the symbol of Arthritis New Zealand a group with which I have quite a bit to do. We were hosting a function to launch a study that has been done in conjunction with Pfizer about the day-to-day issues that people with chronic pain face. Of course Arthritis New Zealand is one of the many many charities around New Zealand that rely very heavily on the great generosity of New Zealanders. I cannot remember the exact figures but I think somewhere approaching $1 billion is now being donated to registered charities in this country according to the Charities Commission. That says two things to me. Firstly it says to me how very generous we are in our giving and secondly how heavily those organisations rely on that charitable giving. It is important I think that those people who do give are fully informed about what they are giving to and the manner in which that money is being applied including whether a percentage of that donated money might be being retained by third-party providers. That indeed was the intention of this bill when it was introduced.  
I want to acknowledge the select committee the Commerce Committee of the 49th Parliament which was ably led by the Hon Lianne Dalziel. Quite some time ago now it considered the bill and as that committee will know and as I am pleased to inform members the bill has undergone something of a rewrite from its form when it was first read. The intention of the bill when it was first introduced was to add to section 26 of the Fair Trading Act. Section 26 is really a section that has more in the nature of prohibitions—what people should not do—rather than direct reference to specific performance which is what the intention of this bill was. So on the advice given to the committee and after submissions the committee has recommended that the bill rather than amend and add to section 26 add a new section 28A—just to be clear about which sections they are. Section 28A is inserted which will actually provide the Minister of Consumer Affairs with the power to recommend to the Governor-General by Order in Council that there be regulations made in respect of the regulation of fund-raisers. That indeed is the question being faced by the Committee tonight.  
I think that is quite a significant change albeit that the specific intent of the bill is very much maintained. There were a number of questions and comments around that in the second reading debate and I certainly look forward to addressing them as I can. I look forward to those comments.