Carter David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Carter David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:629;Page:1722] 
12.  
Hon DAVID CARTER (National) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Local Government 
: Does she stand by her comments reported in the  
Timaru Herald 
 on 17 February 2006 that the Government will not budge on section 36 of the Dog Control Act 1996 which will require newly registered dogs to be microchipped from July 1? 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Associate Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 I stand by my statement reported in the  
Timaru Herald 
: “Responsible dog ownership is where we want to get to and the success of microchipping as a nationwide system for dog identification and control depends on ensuring as many dogs as possible are microchipped.” 
Hon David Carter 
: Is the Minister aware that on the very same day the Minister of Agriculture Jim Anderton was reported in the  
Manawatu 
 Standard 
 as being “sympathetic” to exempting farm working dogs and which Minister are farmers expected to believe? 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: The Minister of Agriculture is a conscientious Minister. We are in the early phases of implementing the microchipping system. I look forward to discussing with the Minister any issues that he may have. 
Hon Marian Hobbs 
: Is the Minister aware of any other views on microchipping? 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: Yes I am. I am aware that both the New Zealand Veterinary Association and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals publicly support the introduction of microchipping. 
Hon David Carter 
: Is the Minister aware of the “practical and pragmatic solution” that the Minister of Agriculture is apparently working on as quoted in the  
Manawatu 
 Standard 
 on 7 March this year? 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: Colleagues will be concerned in terms of ensuring that there is positive implementation of microchipping and we want to achieve one law for all dogs. We need to ensure that the balance of interest in making this decision is between responsible dog ownership and public safety. I say again: one law for all dogs. 
Nathan Guy 
: Has she or the Minister of Local Government received any notification from councils that they will not comply with compulsory microchipping; if so which councils have made such representation? 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: I like the member have seen reports in a number of newspaper articles but I would be very concerned if any member in this Parliament supported a number of calls for civil disobedience because that would send a very bad signal to and set a bad precedent for a number of New Zealanders. 
Hon Jim Anderton 
: Is the Minister aware that the Tararua District Council announced that it hoped the Government would not notice that it would not comply with the dog microchipping regulations and then in order to make sure we did not notice put the point it was making in the local newspaper so that we could read it? 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: Yes and all I can say is one law for all dogs. 
Nathan Guy 
: What reports has the Government received on the financial impact on rural New Zealand of the microchipping of dogs? 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: Again like the member I have seen a number of reports and comments in newspaper articles. But if we aggregate the total cost of microchipping across the lifetime of a farm dog and balance it up with the cost of feeding a farm dog I think we would see that the cost is simply minuscule by comparison.  
Hon David Carter 
: I seek leave to table the  
Timaru Herald 
 article of 17 February that quotes Nanaia Mahuta’s comments. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is. 
Hon David Carter 
: I seek leave to table the  
Manawatu 
 Standard 
 article of 17 February in which Jim Anderton talks about practical solutions. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is. 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: I seek leave to table my press statement from which the  
Timaru Herald 
 articles quoted which clarifies the statements I actually made. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.