Carter David: New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Bill — Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
Carter David: New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Bill — Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
[Volume:609;Page:6297] 
Hon DAVID CARTER (NZ National) 
: I am going to speak specifically on clauses 9 12 and 17 and ask questions of the Minister so I may need more than one call in order to ask all the questions I have. 
Rodney Hide 
: Yes I think that member might need four. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: I might need four—that is right—and I know that other members also have many questions to ask this Minister. 
I refer first to clause 17 which is probably the clause that concerns me most as we move through Part 2. It is about the Minister’s role in respect of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and includes functions such as appointing directors. I ask the Minister to tell us what criteria will be used in selecting the directors of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. I want an assurance that it will not be yet another attempt to appoint Labour Party lackeys. But I am more concerned— 
Government Members 
: Like Wira Gardiner? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Yes there is another one. I do not mind who they are provided they have the ability to do the job and the Minister can give an assurance that they will be appointed on merit rather than on their ability to make Labour Party donations. Maybe the Minister while she is on her feet can confirm how much the Warehouse gave to the Labour Party because I note that the Warehouse got a grant of $75000 from that generous Minister. 
More specifically I want to talk about clause 17(c)—the giving of ministerial directions to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. I want the Minister to explain what role he or she will have in giving direction to the board. Industry New Zealand has given a large number of grants which to date have been an absolute failure. A grant was given to Bill Lloyd of Sovereign Yachts on the basis that the Prime Minister gave the House an assurance it would create jobs. We know now that people in that company have been laid off and left totally disappointed. So I want the Minister to explain what directions and discretion he or she will be giving the board and what role the Minister will have in any funding decision at all. Will sectors such as the boat-building industry be singled out as a priority? 
Brent Catchpole 
: Not another Sovereign Yachts. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: We do not know. We just know that the Minister previously has taken a shine to particular industries and guaranteed the creation of jobs. We know of one that got a large dollop of taxpayer money plus a lot of land at a very cheap price and has not delivered anything substantial to the economy. 
The second clause I want to talk about is clause 12 “Compliance with Government policy. It states: “(1) In the performance of its functions and duties and in the exercise of its powers NZTE must give effect to any policy of the Government …”. That has to be one of the most worrying clauses in this bill because there again we see that this $130 million slush fund can be used simply to promote photo opportunities for the Minister. Earlier Jim Anderton interrupted saying he loves photo opportunities. 
Hon Judith Tizard 
: What’s wrong with them? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: The Minister in the chair Judith Tizard has interrupted to ask what is wrong with them. That depends at what cost— 
Hon Judith Tizard 
: The cost is usually a film and standing there and smiling. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Well I think that that shows we are in trouble. The Minister says the cost is a roll of film and a smile. Can she imagine Jim Anderton going to see Stephen Tindall at the Warehouse with a cheque for $75000? 
Hon Judith Tizard 
: I can’t. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: The Minister cannot? She ought to get to grips with the portfolio— 
Hon Judith Tizard 
: That’s not how it works. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Well the Minister did give $75000 to the Warehouse. There would have been a photo opportunity and I think that photo opportunities come at a huge cost. 
Hon Judith Tizard 
: No no. You’ve got it all wrong. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Well the Minister can take the call. I would be delighted if she took a call and explained to us how there is no cost associated with photo opportunities. We have seem Jim Anderton go up and down the country carrying cheques—all of which are from hard-earned taxpayers.