Quinn Paul: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
Quinn Paul: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:657;Page:6573] 
PAUL QUINN (National) 
: 
 I say to my friend and colleague Jacinda Ardern that unlike her colleague Shane Jones I will not chastise her for mispronouncing the word “hikoi”. If Shane Jones wishes to lambaste her she should give me a call and I will come running to her aid. 
This is the last time that I will have the opportunity to speak and address this debate. Unfortunately I have been summoned to attend a select committee meeting in order to hold the Opposition to account. So unfortunately I will not be able to partake in the rest of the debate. I take this opportunity to provide some overview commentary on some of the comments that we have heard from the Opposition. I would like to start with my friend and colleague the Hon George Hawkins. In his contribution last night he wondered aloud in his offerings why the Government members had not been standing up to debate and why the Ministers had not presented themselves to front up to the debate. Well let me tell the Hon George Hawkins that the reason we have not had to respond is simply due to the quality of the offerings from the Opposition. There has been nothing to respond to. 
The Hon George Hawkins got up last night and said that we would sell the assets. When he was challenged to say which assets he said that he did not know. The point is that Labour has not offered up anything to respond to. 
Moana Mackey 
: What about the Maori seats? 
PAUL QUINN 
: I tell Moana that in frustration and I might say at the request of the Opposition we have had to get up and entertain those members. We have had to get up and entertain the Opposition members because they got frustrated and bored with their own contributions. 
As my time shortens I want to lay out for the record my congratulations on the outstanding contributions to the work on this bill under the great leadership of the Minister of Local Government the Hon Rodney Hide who has led this process in close consultation with and support from the Hon John Carter. Of course the Hon Darren Hughes—I think the member has that title but there are lots of “honourables” on that side of the Chamber; they were dishing them out like gongs—criticised the fact that the Associate Minister John Carter chaired the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee. He said that it had never been done before. Well so what? We are visionaries. This shows the seriousness with which we take the issue. We wanted strong leadership and we wanted an experienced member to chair that meeting. John Carter was the man to do it. I am tremendously proud of the work he has done. 
I want to congratulate the other National members of the committee. Nikki Kaye has done an outstanding job over the last 24 hours in rebutting the contributions from the Opposition. Simon Bridges made an excellent contribution. Dr Paul Hutchison has represented his constituents as a true constituent MP and that should go on the record. In fact I might nominate him for a gong in this year’s Honours List. I think that would be deserved. The list goes on. Tau Henare led the subcommittee hearing on the Maori seats. 
Simon Bridges 
: Jackie Blue! 
PAUL QUINN 
: Jackie Blue was another one. They all gave outstanding contributions. We really have to wonder where Phil Twyford was in all of this. 
Simon Bridges 
: Raymond Huo! 
PAUL QUINN 
: Raymond? Was he on the committee? No.