Williams Andrew: Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Williams Andrew: Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 26 February 2013. Volume:687;Page:8213. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
ANDREW WILLIAMS (NZ First) 
: 
 Was it not very interesting hearing that from Nicky Wagner the chairperson of the Local Government and Environment Committee who obviously does not understand the process of submissions in that she misled in a sense the people of New Zealand listening tonight by saying that only three people submitted on Part 2? Well the average New Zealander does not submit to something on the basis of parts of a bill Ms Wagner. The average New Zealander—if you know anything about democracy—simply gets told about a bill and they simply submit on a bill. They do not submit on parts of a bill. Only those who are very very knowledgable about legislation will submit on a part of a bill. So that was extremely misleading. 
But it is understandable because this Government has commented on the five submitters who supported the overall bill and has ignored the 90 others out of the 95 submitters who opposed the bill. So typically it makes note of Federated Farmers it makes note of Business New Zealand and it makes note of its cronies and mates who support it but it ignores the other 90 because that is not convenient. It was very interesting sitting around that committee table—in Christchurch as well—hearing how the National Party members gave lip-service to many of the submitters. They patronised them. In the case of the Hon Nick Smith a young 14-year-old submitted to the bill—a 14-year-old—and the Hon Nick Smith said to him: “Why should we be listening to you when you can’t even vote? You’re not even eligible to vote.” It was shocking. 
Nicky Wagner 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I would like to point out that the Hon Nick Smith— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: No no. [ 
Interruption 
] Order! No that is a debatable point. It is not for me to judge the validity of comments made. They are debatable points. Members wanting to disagree can take another call. 
ANDREW WILLIAMS 
: So in this regard let us just remind the National Party that after the next general election when there is a new Government there will be local body elections in Canterbury. The Labour Party has said that New Zealand First has said that and the Green Party has said that. There will be elections in Canterbury for all of Canterbury for all elements of local government in Canterbury after the next general election. We will ensure that that happens. Any Cantabrians listening to this tonight need to remember that with a change of Government there will be elections in Canterbury. 
Can I also remind the people sitting on the other benches over there—the people sitting there smirking who smirked through the submissions at the select committee—that they sit on a very very slim majority in some cases. We are talking about democracy here. We are talking about election to local government but I will remind the member Nicky Wagner for instance who is sitting on 12064 votes up against Brendon Burns on 12017 votes that she is sitting on a very slim majority and that majority will not be there in 18 months’ time if she continues with it. I will remind “Curly-tops” over to the right— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: Order! 
ANDREW WILLIAMS 
: Oh sorry— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: No do not say “sorry”. We have already had a caution on this. If any member is going to breach my rulings their speech will be terminated. The member will withdraw his comment immediately. 
ANDREW WILLIAMS 
: I am sorry. I withdraw Mr Chairman. I do not know the gentleman himself but I was just referring to a former comment about that individual. But in terms of Mr Aaron Gilmore I will remind him that he got 10225 votes and lost to Lianne Dalziel who got 15559. At the same time during the same election—and we were going for only the party vote—New Zealand First got 1801. So in terms of Christchurch East—which the Prime Minister descended on in a helicopter and visited only by helicopter; he thought that was sufficient to go and visit the Christchurch suburbs—you are dog tucker in terms of Christchurch East. Your party is dog tucker. You are gone— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: Order! You must not bring the Chair into the debate. 
ANDREW WILLIAMS 
: Thank you Mr Chair. You are certainly not dog tucker—nothing like the sort. I would never ever think of you as dog tucker—do not ever think that. 
Thirdly the Port Hills. We have now the Speaker of the House David Carter who got 12640 votes and lost to the Hon Ruth Dyson with 15737 votes. Lost again—another electorate lost again—and in that electorate New Zealand First got 1609 party votes. I am reminding the National Party you will be gone—