Arbuckle Jamie; Pugh MaureenJAMIE ARBUCKLE (NZ First): Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise on behalf of New Zealand First to take this call on the European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill. It is quite a pleasure to stand here today where the House is in agreement on something. Being a new MP it's probably one of the first times that we can actually stand together and it's actually a congratulations across the House for the hard work in facilitating the progression of this process and the important legislation that's in front of us. New Zealand First expresses support for this bill reaffirming our commitment to a cooperative and integrated approach to foreign affairs.The intent of this bill is to align with increasing access for our products in large markets and unlocking new opportunities for New Zealand exports. New Zealand is a trade- and export-driven country. New Zealand First believes our approach to international relations should focus on independence resilience and good relations of a diverse group of trading partners. To have greater access to the EU market will bring significant benefit to the New Zealand economy.We are seeing exporters and producers in this country struggling with the cost of living and facilitating greater access to a market of 450 million consumers will mean good news for many. The new quotas in this agreement represent the improvement on the status quo for New Zealand businesses exporting into the EU. Our world-class products coming from the hard-working communities in this country will be enjoyed by a magnitude of new consumers. This is a very very good thing.As we know: until now many of New Zealand's products have been effectively locked out of the EU market as a consequence of high tariffs and restrictive quotas. This free-trade agreement (FTA) with the EU will immediately level the playing field for New Zealand exporters. Achieving this agreement is the result of a longstanding bipartisan effort by successive New Zealand Governments which started almost a decade ago. It is also a testament to the work of our offshore network that works day in day out to maintain and expand our international relationships—relationships that are crucial to our country realising its potential.This agreement is also of strategic importance to New Zealand. The EU is a close and like-minded partner with which we have longstanding historical cultural political and economic ties. The absence of the fair trading agreement has been a major gap in this otherwise substantial relationship. It is a significant outcome for New Zealand businesses big and small which will be able to start taking advantage of the benefits under the agreement in just over a month's time. This fair-trade agreement will also promote trade diversification and build economic resilience as well as helping to address the rising costs of living for New Zealanders.Like the Minister for Trade we seriously look forward to celebrating the agreement entering into force on 1 May. With a GDP of around $27 trillion and a population of 450 million consumers the EU is an important market for New Zealand businesses looking to sell overseas. When finally implemented the fair trading agreement is set to provide an annual boost to our GDP by up to $1.4 billion and increase our exports to the EU by up to $1.8 billion per year. That will provide tariff savings to New Zealand exporters of $100 million from the first day the agreement enters into force the highest immediate tariff savings achieved under any New Zealand FTA to date. From the day the agreement enters into force that 91 percent of New Zealand current trade into the EU will enter duty-free—a combination of tariff elimination and duty-free quotas rising up to 97 percent over a number of years. There is also significant new quota access for meat and dairy products worth hundreds of millions of dollars if filled.The 27 countries that we will now connect into into the EU that is significant. These negotiations as we have said today in the House have been over a long period of time and we acknowledge all those negotiations that have taken part; over 12 rounds' worth of negotiations I think over the years. What we are here today doing is unlocking economic growth and that's something New Zealand First back into Government is very supportive of building our exports and unlocking economic growth opportunities.We've heard today from the Minister and something that I'm very connected to is the horticultural industry things like kiwifruit and onions being able to earn millions of extra revenue very much right away from this deal taking place. But it doesn't just affect onions and kiwifruit; it's fish it's wine—another thing that I'm connected with in the Marlborough region; the wine industry will benefit hugely from this—mānuka honey seafood our aquaculture industry that we want to grow so much and industrial products. But there is also benefits to New Zealanders as well as we access better things such as machinery and I hear footwear as well and all different other products.It is ironic that in this House we are able to act fast on this legislation because obviously there is concern on the other side of the House on fast-track legislation around the Resource Management Act but some things need to be acted on fast and this is something today that is good that we celebrate together that we can all agree that this is a good way forward.So Damien O'Connor I also want to acknowledge your work and Todd McClay and everyone who's worked on this to get this to this point. It is a modern high-quality agreement and I commend this bill to the House. Thank you.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh): Members this is a split call; this is the Māori Party's call I understand.