Upston LouiseSOCIAL ASSISTANCE (RESIDENCY QUALIFICATION) LEGISLATION BILLSecond ReadingDebate resumed.Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō): Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I rise in the second reading of the Social Assistance (Residency Qualification) Legislation Bill and will put on record that National will of course be supporting this legislation in the second reading. There was of course a prime ministerial visit last year by Rt Hon Bill English to the Pacific where he made the undertaking that this issue would be resolved. That's why National is pleased to support this legislation. Unfortunately there is a lot of legislation that is supported around the House that doesn't usually make headlines but I know this particular legislation will make a significant difference even though the media might not report it and be singing it from the rooftops.This is about making the superannuation requirements fairer for residents of the Cook Islands Niue and Tokelau. So it is of course nice that this is getting its second reading in Tokelau Language Week. But also as the MP for Taupō I have a significant Cook Island population and I know this is an issue they've raised and this is an issue that will make a difference to them.For those listeners or viewers who have just tuned in to this particular debate there is a requirement at the moment which came into effect in 2015 that has a New Zealand superannuation residence requirement of five years' residence from the age of 50—what's more commonly known as the five years after 50 rule. What it means for those in the Cook Islands Niue and Tokelau which we have particular constitutional arrangements with in New Zealand—a very special relationship—is that it was actually deterring skilled people from returning to those countries which in many cases desperately need the skills of that population. Instead it was kind of forcing them to remain in New Zealand which had an economic impact on those home countries. So this is a practical and sensible change that as I said the former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Bill English had committed to in the Pacific in June last year. So I do want to commend the Government for making this a priority.I was on the select committee that considered this legislation. It's an interesting select committee. We have bills like this that are very simple and straightforward. There were seven submitters and the submitters did raise a number of issues. The Minister has gone through those in detail so it's not my expectation to traverse that ground again. I do want to just say though if any of the submitters are listening to this debate or will read the Hansard subsequently the issues absolutely were considered by the select committee. They were considered at length and discussed at length. The overall decision though was that the bill wouldn't be changed as was presented to the select committee. And as I say the Minister who spoke before me Minister Sio I think traversed those issues well and I don't intend to do it. The Social Services and Community Committee has other legislation that is not quite so straightforward but is also unanimously supported like child poverty legislation that has taken a significant amount of work and cooperation to get back to this House.So in terms of this piece of legislation the Social Assistance (Residency Qualification) Legislation Bill it absolutely recognises the special relationship that New Zealand has with the Cook Islands Niue and Tokelau. While we welcome the right of people from these countries to live in New Zealand it's also really important that we give them the equal opportunity to live in their original Islands and we don't want to be imposing something that actually by way of providing a superannuation payment to someone is then detrimental to the home economies and at the same time we are making sure that those individuals aren't punished by not receiving or qualifying for the superannuation payment.So it is a simple change. The cost identified to taxpayers is actually very little. One of the numbers that was considered for example: it was thought that perhaps if this wasn't progressed about 200 people would delay their departure back to the Cook Islands Niue or Tokelau until they reached the age of 65. They would then have qualified for the residency and for the New Zealand superannuation and then travelled back. So it's not a large number who are affected but for those individuals and their families and the three countries involved actually it's a significant benefit.So for those listening it's a fairly simple piece of legislation but it will have wide-ranging impacts. I want to thank my parliamentary colleagues on the select committee for the work that was done on this and to make sure that this legislation progresses with reasonable pace so that those individuals and families and the three countries of the Cook Islands Niue and Tokelau receive the adequate benefit. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.