Fox Marama: SuperGold Health Check Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFox Marama: SuperGold Health Check Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 24 June 2015. Volume:706;Page:4761. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MARAMA FOX (Co-Leader—Māori Party): I rise tonight to support—yes that is right you heard me correctly: to support—the SuperGold Health Check Bill.Hon Members: Kia ora.MARAMA FOX: Thank you. You might find that I am often correct—something you may need to learn.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Order! I think the member advising me about needing to learn that is probably not the proper thing—MARAMA FOX: My apologies. The members of the New Zealand First Party might find that I am often correct. Yes it may be some surprise that I am supporting this given the events that unfolded in question time today. But you need to understand e te Mana Whakawā that there is no festering turd of resentment here in the Māori Party. In fact despite the baseless accusations against my co-leader I am happy to support Koro Winitana and his well-herded followers and we will not be dissuaded from supporting this proposed legislation. Why? Because this legislation is aimed at alleviating the hardships that our people face.I do have a few concerns though. I wonder given the aim of the bill to support the needs of our elderly folk our most senior members of our country whether there might be some conflict of interest from the member who is proposing the bill. But far it be from me—The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Order! The member will resume her seat. There are two warnings now. That was an inappropriate comment and the member will withdraw it. The second warning is that the member is reading her speech and she must stop.MARAMA FOX: Fair call Mr Assistant Speaker. I withdraw. I will no longer read the speech but I might refer to it every now and again. I do withdraw those comments about the member who is proposing the bill. There should be no aspersions cast that there is any feathering of nests here—or Zimmer frames.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): The member will resume her seat again. In her withdrawal she did more than say “I withdraw.”; she repeated—she repeated—the point. Although the member might find it funny I think defiance of the Speaker when asked to withdraw is not something that leads to happiness for members—I have some experience.MARAMA FOX: Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. I will try to keep it under control.I do want to support the bill though in all seriousness because it is aimed at alleviating the hardships of our people—and our Māori people specifically do suffer in this country from actually living 8 years less on average than non-Māori. It would be hard for New Zealand First to add to this given that it does not appreciate race-based policies. However it is a suggestion that I think should be taken up—that in fact if Māori live 8 years less then maybe the benefits of this legislation should be supported to take effect at 60 the way they used to be and not at 65 as it is now.We have moved into a time when it is more a case of economy versus society. If it is for the fact of money that we are making this decision we need to think again. We need to move away from the economy and back to society. Our older people are well respected. If they were not here to give us guidance and advice we would be less worthy of that in this country. We would be failing to uphold the richness of their numerous years. I think that we would like to support the legislation to ensure that they live long and healthy lives and to improve the state of Māori. That is why we stand as the Māori Party to support this legislation.You will know or perhaps you may not Mr Assistant Speaker that in the East Coast region there is much disparity but we get most of our support on the marae from our old people. I know when I go up the coast and up to Wairarapa that those numbers are dwindling quickly. There is great hardship on our older people especially at this time of year and that only needs to be witnessed—[Interruption] You would know that actually if you—[Interruption] The members might understand that I am speaking in support of this bill so their yelling out is not helping. I would think that if we concentrate on keeping our elderly people alive and offer that support to the marae and to their communities then we will be the richer for it in this country. Therefore we support this bill.