Lotu-Iiga Peseta Sam: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — First Reading 
Lotu-Iiga Peseta Sam: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — First Reading 
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PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA (National—Maungakiekie) 
: 
 This is the evening of a momentous day not just for Auckland but for New Zealand in that we are debating the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill a bill that will lead New Zealand forward. I want to correct a few of the misconceptions that have come from across the aisle about consultation that has not yet occurred. Well this is only the first reading of the bill I remind some of our colleagues across the aisle and there will be a level of consultation. We will have a number of public meetings where we will listen to Auckland. These meetings will be about members of Parliament listening to their constituents—not members of Parliament who live in other electorates trying to listen but members of Parliament who live in their electorates. 
I also thank the clerks and the staff of this institution— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I know that it is not really my role to defend the Prime Minister but I think attacks on him in this way by one of his backbenchers when he is not in the House are just not fair. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Rick Barker) 
: That is not a point of order. I invite the honourable member to continue with his speech. 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA 
: Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. 
Hon Member 
: You’re useless Sam. 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA 
: I am not useless. Mr Assistant Speaker I have thick skin and I will continue to talk about the bill. We have heard about how sad that mob over there are about this bill. We have heard the Opposition’s hyperbole and exaggeration about the bill and in a week when one of our police officers has been killed I say it is quite inappropriate for a member of Parliament to say that a gun is being levelled at people’s heads. To talk about deaths and funerals when one of our own members has lost her mother and to compare that with this bill is quite inappropriate. We had another member of Parliament from across the aisle—one who does not live in his electorate of course—claim that the people are watching. Well they are not watching. They are watching the Blues beat the Crusaders; they are up by 13 to 12 and I am quite happy about that. 
This bill is about establishing the Auckland Council and the governing board of that council. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek some advice. If you could inform us— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Rick Barker) 
: I am not here for advice. The member is making a point of order. What is the point of order? 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: I am seeking to find out whether the Auckland City Council ratepayer or the taxpayer is paying the bill for this member’s speech. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Rick Barker) 
: That is not a point of order; the member knows that. It was simply an attempt to break up the member’s speech. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This is a two-part point of order. It is a longstanding convention in the House that members should be referred to by their proper names. The member has referred to members opposite by the descriptor “a member who does not live in his electorate”. The second part of the question is whether that descriptor could apply to the member’s leader when he has filled in a primary place of residence form with an address in his electorate but does not actually live there. 
Hon Members 
: What is the point of order? 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: The point of order is that first I seek the Chair’s guidance to have an offensive remark removed; and second I seek clarification of whether an epithet like “a member who does not live in his electorate” could apply to the speaker’s own leader who filled in a primary place of residence— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Rick Barker) 
: Neither point is a point of order. The member will resume his seat. 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA 
: Mr Assistant Speaker it is clear that we have had a historic day today. It is 13 May and I am glad to be part of a Government that is taking action. I am glad to be part of a Government that has people like Rodney Hide John Carter and the Hon John Key in it. I am proud to be part of a Government that does not talk and sit on its heels for 9 years but takes action. We are leading this country into the future. Whether or not members opposite like it we will be leading this country for a very long time. 
I am in support of this bill. Thank you.