Calder Cam: Local Electoral (Maori Representation) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Calder Cam: Local Electoral (Maori Representation) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:664;Page:11803] 
Dr CAM CALDER (National) 
: 
 E nga mana e nga reo e nga rangatira ma tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa. I acknowledge my colleague Te Ururoa Flavell. When asked why he was in the Parliamentary Rugby Team he said “Because I’m good.” and he is. He was an excellent player at Tolaga Bay as was my colleague across there Mr Kelvin Davis. 
I would like to make a comment to the Hon Nanaia Mahuta. She made the point that National is not supporting the Local Electoral (Maori Representation) Amendment Bill. Indeed she is correct; we are not. But I point out however that friends and colleagues can agree to differ on certain things and can agree to broadly support each other on others. That is the relationship we have with our colleagues in the Maori Party. 
I point out that much progress has been made. I had the privilege of going to the Ratana gathering this year and to Te Tii Marae at Waitangi. In both places orators made the point that Maoridom has made more progress under this National-led Government than in the previous 9 years—9 years of wasted opportunities 9 years of the Labour Government turning its back and 9 years of it ignoring these issues. 
My colleague opposite the Hon Parekura Horomia who sold me a lot of things at auction a couple of weeks ago at Tolaga Bay mentioned a very fine mayor in his local city. That gentleman is Maori-Chinese. He is a very fine local government mayor. He did not get there because he was Chinese and he did not get there because he was Maori; he got there because he put up his hand and said that he was good he was able and he should be elected. 
Hon Parekura Horomia 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I would like to assist the speaker. The mayor he is referring to has no Maori in him whatsoever; he is Chinese. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Rick Barker) 
: I say to the member again that that is not a point of order; that is a matter of debate. That is not a point of order and the member knows that. It is not good practice to interrupt a member when he or she is speaking with a point of order that is not a point of order. Let us give Mr Cam Calder the floor again and listen as we should do. 
Dr CAM CALDER 
: I thank my colleague. Obviously in that case the mayor did not get elected because he was Maori—we have established that. 
The purpose of the Local Electoral (Maori Representation) Amendment Bill is to require all territorial authorities and regional councils to establish Maori wards and constituencies to provide for Maori representation. This would be achieved by amendments to the Local Electoral Act 2001. The general policy statement accompanying the bill controversially asserts that there is a requirement to establish Maori seats arising from the Treaty of Waitangi. That is not currently an accurate reflection of the state of New Zealand law. 
We believe that good local government is essential for our communities our economy and our environment. National values an open and honest working relationship with local government and as my colleague Mr Colin King pointed out earlier we do not believe that one size fits all in local government. The National Government will not be supporting this bill.