edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Wilson Margaret: Business Statement 
Wilson Margaret: Business Statement 
[Volume:638;Page:8692] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I think it might assist members if— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I want to clear that up if I may. There was no reason given for— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: No I am sorry. I am sure it would be helpful Mr Brownlee but I have a more fundamental issue and that is these matters should be raised at the Business Committee. That is the whole purpose of the Business Committee. They were not raised at the meeting on Tuesday.
Brownlee Gerry: Business Statement 
Brownlee Gerry: Business Statement 
[Volume:638;Page:8692] 
GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. The reason they were not raised on Tuesday is that the bill at that point had not been dealt with by the House. Secondly there is no Business Committee meeting before the next report-back date. If there is something very pressing we should know about it. I have listened to the briefings our people have listened to briefings and despite the protestations from the Minister that he had someone from the Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit giving appropriate advice no reason was given for the speed and haste around this bill.
Mallard Trevor: Business Statement 
Mallard Trevor: Business Statement 
[Volume:638;Page:8692] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister for State Owned Enterprises) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I want to take some care in what I say now because this bill is being considered at a select committee. There has been some discussion in closed hearings. Both myself and a lawyer from the Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit briefed the committee on the reasons and I do not think it is appropriate to repeat them in the Chamber.
Cullen Michael: Business Statement 
Cullen Michael: Business Statement 
[Volume:638;Page:8692] 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 That is certainly not a matter for a point of order. My understanding is that as the chair of the Commerce Committee Mr Brownlee has expressed a wish for the select committee not to meet during the 3-week adjournment as that might be somewhat strenuous for him. I understand also that he will be seeking leave to extend the report-back date by 2 weeks. I have no objection to that leave being sought and granted and we will proceed with the bill after that.
Brownlee Gerry: Business Statement 
Brownlee Gerry: Business Statement 
[Volume:638;Page:8692] 
GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) 
: 
 There is no agreement to extend the bill by leave for 2 weeks. [ 
Interruption 
] Yes I know he has offered. There has been a long discussion in the select committee and there is no agreement to do that. But if there is some particularly pressing commercial reason why that should happen I find it surprising that the National Party has not been told what that is.
Cullen Michael: Business Statement 
Cullen Michael: Business Statement 
[Volume:638;Page:8691] 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 Next week the House will go into a 3-week adjournment which covers the Easter to Anzac Day period. When the House resumes on Tuesday 1 May priority will be given to the debate on the performance and current operations of Crown entities public organisations and State enterprises and the remaining stages of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Bill the Human Rights (Women in Armed Forces) Amendment Bill and the Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill. The first Wednesday of course will be a members’ day.
Brownlee Gerry: Business Statement 
Brownlee Gerry: Business Statement 
[Volume:638;Page:8691] 
GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I thank the Leader of the House for telling us what the business will be when we return. I did not pick up what he intends to do about the merger bill in respect of AgriQuality Ltd and Asure New Zealand Ltd. We heard this morning that there is some commercial urgency around this particular matter. The Government sent the bill to the Commerce Committee on Tuesday for report back by 30 April. That is a very very short report-back time and certainly a difficult proposition given that the committee had not anticipated receiving the bill and that most members have diary engagements that make meeting that commitment exceptionally difficult. The prospect of report back to caucuses as required by a coalition partner is also difficult. Of course if the period were to be extended by 1 week then because of the Tuesday arrangement we would effectively need 2 weeks to get that done; even then we would be pushing it. So I wonder whether we might allow the Leader of the House to explain what those commercial imperatives are.
Wilson Margaret: Speaker’s Statements — Televising of Parliament—Testing 
Wilson Margaret: Speaker’s Statements — Televising of Parliament—Testing 
[Volume:638;Page:8691] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Before members depart for the Easter adjournment I would like to remind the House of the work that is progressing to webcast and televise Parliament. During April remote-controlled cameras will be installed in this Chamber. These cameras will not be operational when the House resumes in May. However the cameras will be tested during the 3-week period of sittings in June. The images from that testing will not be broadcast. 
Provided that the testing is successful the proceedings will be webcast from 17 July and provided to any broadcasters that wish to take them. Discussions are under way with potential broadcasters now. It is intended that the present rules for filming Parliament that apply to commercial operators filming proceedings will apply to this service. The protocols for filming will be considered by the Standing Orders Committee in May.
Wilson Margaret: Visitors — Indonesia—Deputy Speaker 
Wilson Margaret: Visitors — Indonesia—Deputy Speaker 
[Volume:638;Page:8691] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I have much pleasure in informing members that His Excellency Mr MuhaiminIskandar the Deputy Speaker of the Republic of Indonesia is within the precincts of the Chamber. I am sure that members would wish that he be welcomed. I am sure that members would also wish to welcome the members of his delegation who are present in the gallery.
Business of Select Committees — Reporting Dates 
Business of Select Committees — Reporting Dates 
[Volume:638;Page:8713] 
Business of Select Committees 
Reporting Dates 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I refer back to an earlier exchange in relation to the State-Owned Enterprises (AgriQuality Limited and Asure New Zealand Limited) Bill. The Government would like to make progress on that bill in the next parliamentary session. Of course that session is dominated in its latter part by the Budget which starts on 17 May but if we extended it by 1 week that would not create a problem in terms of making some progress. I therefore seek leave that the report-back date be extended to 7 May which would assist the select committee. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought. Is there any objection? There is no objection.
Points of Order — Questions for Written Answer—Overdue Answers National Party—Leadership 
Points of Order — Questions for Written Answer—Overdue Answers National Party—Leadership 
[Volume:638;Page:8693] 
Points of Order 
Questions for Written Answer—Overdue Answers 
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I seek your assistance on this matter. We are going into a 3-week adjournment and I have 180 questions that are overdue from the Minister for Social Development and Employment Mr Benson-Pope. I have written to the Leader of the House. What else are we supposed to do to get the Minister to answer questions? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I thought about this matter just before coming down to the House. My office will be following up with the Minister’s office and I thank the member for following that procedure. 
National Party—Leadership 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I want to raise a point of order under Standing Order 35(1)(b). That Standing Order relates to the necessity of parties informing you about their leadership and whips. The National Party website at 11.55 a.m. recorded a press statement from “National Party Leader Bill English.” I would like to know Madam Speaker whether you were informed of a change in the National Party leadership—or was he perhaps gone by lunch time? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: There has been no such notification.
Speaker’s Statements — Televising of Parliament—Testing 
Speaker’s Statements — Televising of Parliament—Testing 
[Volume:638;Page:8691] 
Speaker’s Statements 
Televising of Parliament—Testing 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Before members depart for the Easter adjournment I would like to remind the House of the work that is progressing to webcast and televise Parliament. During April remote-controlled cameras will be installed in this Chamber. These cameras will not be operational when the House resumes in May. However the cameras will be tested during the 3-week period of sittings in June. The images from that testing will not be broadcast. 
Provided that the testing is successful the proceedings will be webcast from 17 July and provided to any broadcasters that wish to take them. Discussions are under way with potential broadcasters now. It is intended that the present rules for filming Parliament that apply to commercial operators filming proceedings will apply to this service. The protocols for filming will be considered by the Standing Orders Committee in May.
Visitors — Indonesia—Deputy Speaker 
Visitors — Indonesia—Deputy Speaker 
[Volume:638;Page:8691] 
Thursday 5 April 2007 
Madam Speaker 
 took the Chair at 2 p.m. 
Prayers 
. 
Visitors 
Indonesia—Deputy Speaker 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I have much pleasure in informing members that His Excellency Mr MuhaiminIskandar the Deputy Speaker of the Republic of Indonesia is within the precincts of the Chamber. I am sure that members would wish that he be welcomed. I am sure that members would also wish to welcome the members of his delegation who are present in the gallery.
Anderton Jim: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
Anderton Jim: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
[Volume:633;Page:4744] 
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Leader—Progressive) 
: 
 My fellow party leaders have paid full tribute to one of the most respected leaders in Maoridom and indeed in New Zealand. Much has already been said about her mana her dignity and more broadly what the Kingitanga movement represents in this country. Many have also sent good wishes to her successor as I do as well. I join in the goodwill of these sentiments expressed in the House and in support of the Prime Minister’s motion. But rather than repeat anything that has been said I take the opportunity to reflect a little more widely about what I think has been particularly evident over these last few days. 
On display at Turangawaewae has been something unique to our identity as a nation. Death of course is a time for mourning and remembrance. But the stature of Dame Te Atairangikaahu has brought quite a remarkable number of people to her tangi—from across Maoridom from the international community and of course from across all of New Zealand. 
 However many other New Zealanders shared in this tangi through the media—television in particular. This is probably the first time that an occasion of this kind has been witnessed by so many New Zealanders at the same time through that powerful medium. On display has been an intimate view of Maoridom. Many New Zealanders are seeing for the first time what that is like. They are seeing the uniqueness of Maori tangi: the people directing traffic; the people cooking eating and singing—not many New Zealanders go to funerals where people sing and tell jokes so spontaneously—the welcoming; the challenging; and the celebrating. On display has been mana status cloaks Pacific mats and a wonderful parade of the people of this country and of course of the Pacific itself. On display has been the warmth of a Maori welcome to all. It has been a week of dignity love aroha a very deep sense of the community of New Zealand all embracing—and a very powerful symbol at that. 
The death of Dame Te Atairangikaahu has saddened us all of course but her funeral has been one of those unique events that has enriched us all. It has brought us closer together as a nation. She would have been pleased by that. Hopefully this has made each of us more respectful of and more grateful for the strength and dignity of Maori culture and its contribution to what makes this country unique.
Turner Judy: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
Turner Judy: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
[Volume:633;Page:4759] 
JUDY TURNER (Deputy Leader—United Future) 
: 
 During this week as we have mourned as a nation I have been reminded of what I would consider a defining moment around our Maori Queen that happened for me back in the 1980s. I was attending a week-long inter-church youth workers’ conference in the Waikato. There were a number of keynote speakers both international and from within New Zealand. At some stage in the early organisation of the conference somebody had wondered whether there could be an opportunity for the keynote speakers particularly our international speakers to meet with the Maori Queen. She agreed at very much I think the eleventh hour. The speakers reported on the wonderful and gracious reception they received from her. 
At the time one of the American speakers extended to her a very belated invitation to come at any stage to the conference we were attending—there were probably 500 or 600 youth workers at this conference. Nothing much else was thought of it. About halfway through the week during one of those awful early afternoon sessions when one has eaten too much lunch is trying to keep awake and is not concentrating very much on what is being said there was a bit of a rustle and a kerfuffle and people rushed forward. The speaker on the platform stopped and somebody jumped up and said that it had just been discovered that our Maori Queen had arrived and was sitting in the back row with her friends. We were apologetic for the lack of acknowledgment. We cleared some seats at the front and asked her to come forward and those at the conference were asked to welcome her in the usual way. 
So the usual round of applause began. Then something happened that I can only describe as absolute magic as 500 to 600 youth workers and young people spontaneously rose to their feet and gave the most amazing and eternal standing ovation I have ever witnessed in my life. At the end of that ovation most of us had tears pouring down our face while looking at each other and asking: “What just happened?”. What happened was that our Maori Queen came amongst us and her humble presence as she and her entourage moved forward to the seats that had been reserved for them very quickly and belatedly gave a message to our hearts that nobody else could have covered in any great oratory for the rest of that conference. Somehow there was a buy-in and a sense of who we were as a nation that for our young people was very hard to quantify. I will never forget that—it was life-defining for me and all this week I have remembered it and replayed it in my mind. 
I pass on my condolences to Tainui to Dame Te Ata’s family and to her son who now shoulders that wonderful responsibility. I wish him and all of Maoridom well as they embrace all that will happen out of this amazing week. I wish Dame Te Ata Godspeed and wish her son all God’s blessings in this momentous week.
Tanczos Nandor: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
Tanczos Nandor: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
[Volume:633;Page:4758] 
NANDOR TANCZOS (Green) 
: 
 To Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu I ask that she may be at peace and rest in honour with her ancestors. To the new arikinui Tuheitia Paki I pay honour and respect for the responsibility that now lies on his shoulders. To the whanau pani I send our condolences and commiseration for the sad loss. Also to the hapu and iwi I acknowledge the responsibility they all now shoulder moving forward. 
I speak not to represent the Green Party because my co-leader has already done that but as a Pakeha in Aotearoa as tangata tiriti as an African-Hungarian descendant and as a Rastafarian who lives in this land Aotearoa. As one who lives in the Waikato and who shelters under the mantle of Tainui I stand simply to pay my respects and also to thank the people of Turangawaewae for the great hospitality and manaakitanga they showed over this weekend. It was an enormous honour and a privilege to be there to witness and participate in this tangi—this momentous historical moment in the life of our nation. So I give thanks for that manaakitanga. 
Also I thank Parliament for taking the time to commemorate the life of this amazing woman and the important historical moment of the passing of the mantle of the Kingitanga. We are here of course to honour and acknowledge the loss of the Maori Queen both as a person—and there have been many tributes to her wonderful characteristics as a human being—and in recognition of her mana as the arikinui of the Kingitanga. This Parliament is not always a place that recognises the mana of Maori leadership so I am thankful we have done that today. I pay my respects to all of us here but most of all to the departed and to the new leadership of the Kingitanga. Kia ora tatou.
Dalziel Lianne: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
Dalziel Lianne: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
[Volume:633;Page:4758] 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL (Minister of Women's Affairs) 
: 
 Ko tenei te poroporoaki ki a Te Arikinui Kahurangi Te Atairangikaahu. Me whakamaumahara tatou i a koe he wahine toa he wahine humarie he mana wahine. E moe e moe e moe . 
This is a farewell to Te Arikinui Dame Te Ata. We will all remember her. She had all the qualities of a leader. She was a woman of strength humility and mana. Rest in peace. 
I speak very briefly as Minister of Women’s Affairs because Dame Te Ata as the patron of the Maori Women’s Welfare League was connected with my role. The league is one of the partners I work with as Minister alongside the National Council of Women and alongside Pasifika. The Maori Women’s Welfare League is a forum in which Maori women can air their concerns to the policy makers of today because it is well respected by all as an important contributor to issues affecting Maori women. 
Dame Te Ata will be an enormous loss to the nation but will be forever remembered as an international icon for Aotearoa and a humble leader within our nation. Truly she was a Maori woman leader he mana wahine. On behalf of all New Zealand women I say farewell.
Bennett David: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
Bennett David: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
[Volume:633;Page:4758] 
DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) 
: 
 It is with great sadness that the National Party also sends its condolences to the Tainui people. We had a number of our MPs there and we were very grateful for the welcome and for the way we were treated during that process. Something that a lot of us in the wider community have come to accept over the last couple of days is that New Zealand is a very small country and that we have more in unity and in common than we have in difference. 
Dame Te Ata was someone whom I as a new MP had known for only a very short period of time. She was someone who always welcomed me on to the marae and into the Tainui community. As a local Hamilton MP I congratulate Martin Gallagher on his words about the role of Tainui in the Waikato. I bring those words from the Waikato MPs of the National Party as well. 
It has been a tough time for Tainui. There was a settlement that showed great promise and there have been tough times since then. But Tainui are now a very strong force in our region—as they should be—and they will provide much of the commercial and political impetus in our region in the future. That is something we should celebrate and support. Over this weekend the wider community of the Waikato has mourned. They have supported Tainui and they will support Tainui in the future because our futures are inextricably linked. 
With that I bring the support of the Waikato National MPs to the words that have been spoken in this House. We thank Tainui sincerely for the respect gratitude and welcome they showed us and wish them the best for the future with their new king. We thank them for the memories they have given us.
Wong Pansy: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
Wong Pansy: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
[Volume:633;Page:4751] 
PANSY WONG (National) 
: 
 Great sadness is felt throughout the Asian communities on the passing of the Maori Queen the late Dame Te Ata. This sad loss was reported by the Asian media and she was remembered at the Auckland Indian Association’s celebration of India’s Independence Day. It would be fair to say that many Asian New Zealanders would have learnt of Dame Te Ata for maybe the first time. Where could they have learnt of her as a person and her achievements? Indeed how could the public have come to know her better when in her lifetime there was so little coverage of her activities and her works? In the last week many people have suddenly learnt more of her personality and achievements than in her 40 years as Maori Queen. I hope her successor King Tuheitia will receive the media attention befitting a person in that position. 
It was obvious throughout the tangi that people from all walks of life were paying their respects and were saddened by Dame Te Ata’s death. That in itself is a tremendous tribute to this gentle lady who conducted herself with grace and ritual towards everyone. I was fortunate to meet Dame Te Ata on several occasions and I remember her for her wisdom strength of character and humanity. I felt very welcome while in her presence and I believe our country is poorer for her loss. When we met she never asked me where I came from; our conversations would naturally centre on the people and the events that we were involved in. Her acceptance of individuals in their own right beyond ethnicity was refreshing. 
Dame Te Ata was a chosen queen who had earned respect by her hard work and her positive and inclusive personality. One of the many legacies she will leave I hope is for our media and others to treat individual New Zealanders as people in their own right not just as a convenient label based on their ethnicities for the convenience of reporting. The late queen made an overwhelming contribution to our country and her work has helped us all to move forward as New Zealanders. I say farewell to the queen.
Mapp Wayne: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
Mapp Wayne: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
[Volume:633;Page:4750] 
Dr WAYNE MAPP (National—North Shore) 
: 
 With humility courage and leadership and not through boastful achievements but through quiet dignity she led her people. As we have heard she succeeded to the Kingitanga some 40 years ago but perhaps came to national prominence really in the last 15 years. She has truly been part of the Maori renaissance that this country has witnessed—and I might say to its benefit. During this period she has had to show courage in particular and leadership. I well recall the tremendous efforts that she and her brother Sir Robert Mahuta had to make in the settlement of 1995. It was a hugely significant time for our nation. It was the first settlement. It came after the fiscal envelope and the demonstrations. One can imagine the sense of confidence in the future they had to have to take their people forward at that time in our nation’s history. I believe that the whole country has benefited from that particular decision. It was brave indeed. My wife well recalls a particular time when President Mandela visited Turangawaewae. And there we had true leadership—two people who had led their peoples to a renaissance. Surely that is the mark of leadership. 
I want to speak very briefly just to record today my appreciation of being able to be present yesterday in particular to witness the tens of thousands of people who were there from right across this nation not just Maori but Pakeha Pacific Islanders and people from literally all races and backgrounds. They were demonstrating by that act which was not imposed by a Government—it was their own decision to be present—a celebration of our nationhood and a sense for the future. For Te Arikinui Tuheitia Paki he does have big shoes to fill; that is known. But I know that he has had the training the experience and in fact the lessons of his mother to know what it takes to lead the people. This is not a kingship that is vested with any legal powers. Its power is entirely moral. It is one given by the people freely to embody the leadership of the people of Tainui and to a wider extent to the motu as a whole. 
I wish him well. I know he has great opportunities to fill for the future but I am confident that he can do that. To the family I offer my humble respects on this day.
Dunne Peter: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
Dunne Peter: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
[Volume:633;Page:4743] 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 E Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu te mokopuna o te motu te whaea o te whenua moe mai i te poho o te tipuna whare Mahinaarangi i te whakaharahara o to marae rongonui a Turangawaewae. Moe mai i raro i te mauri o to maunga tapu o Taupiri. 
Queen Te Atairangikaahu the Grandchild of the Region the Mother of the Land rest in peace in the bosom of your ancestral home Mahinaarangi in the magnificence of your well-known marae Turangawaewae; rest in peace in the spirit of your sacred mountain Taupiri. 
United Future joins with other members who have spoken in this debate to express our condolences to the whanau of the late Dame Te Ata to the people of Tainui and to the Maori nation on the loss of Te Arikinui and to reflect on her outstanding contribution to the life of this country over the previous 40 years. 
She came from an extraordinarily proud heritage: from Potatau through Tawhiao Mahuta Tarata and her father Koroki. But in many senses the reign that has just ended was the most significant for the Maori people and for the people of New Zealand as a whole. During her time as others have made reference to already the cultural economic and social renaissance of the Maori people did much to build this nation. Dame Te Ata’s ever-present smile her quiet dignity her wisdom and her determination were a significant part of that contribution. 
Now through her son Tuheitia Paki the challenge is for that role to continue. I believe we stand on the verge of one of the significant turning points in our history. The huge outpouring of grief sentiment and reverence of the last week and the willingness of many tribes previously not associated with the Kingitanga to come to Turangawaewae and be involved in the decisions about the future direction of the movement and the future participation they all might have within that organisation bode well for a strong reign to come and bode well for a strong and united nation. 
 And while the mantle now rests with Tuheitia Paki to build on and deliver those achievements I have little doubt that the inspiration behind them the driving force for their attainment being seen as a possibility was and will remain Dame Te Ata. This woman who was referred to in reverential terms as The Lady has left a mark on the history of this nation that far belies her diminutive size and gentle appearance. She was a true leader. We will miss her greatly. We will miss her inspiration and her leadership. Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu haere ra haere ra haere ra.
Brash Don: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
Brash Don: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
[Volume:633;Page:4738] 
Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) 
: 
 On behalf of the National Party I warmly endorse the Prime Minister’s comments about Dame Te Ata and I appreciate this opportunity to pay a tribute to her. She was a most remarkable person. She was the Maori monarch for over four decades; longer than any of her predecessors. She was the first woman to be the Maori monarch. She was the active patron of the Maori Women’s Welfare League an organisation that has done an enormous amount of good work over a great many years. She was an active patron of the kohanga reo movement also and encouraged the use of the Maori language. She was the first Maori to be made a dame in 1970. She was one of the first people to become a member of the Order of New Zealand in 1987. She played a very substantial role as an ambassador for New Zealand and an ambassador for the Maori people overseas. She played a very constructive role in seeing the first major Treaty settlement signed between the Government and Maori in 1995. 
I had the privilege of meeting Dame Te Ata on a number of occasions over the last 15 years and I was always enormously impressed by her manner her grace her dignity and her mana. She was a most worthy representative of Tainui a most worthy representative of the Kingitanga movement and a most worthy representative of all Maori. She was in every respect a fine New Zealander. In paying tribute to Dame Te Ata we also wish her son and successor every best wish in his role. He has very big shoes to fill.
Cullen Michael: Responses — David Ruth—Statements made by Ron Mark MP 
Cullen Michael: Responses — David Ruth—Statements made by Ron Mark MP 
[Volume:633;Page:4737] 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I move  
That that paper be published 
. 
Motion agreed to.
Responses — David Ruth—Statements made by Ron Mark MP 
Responses — David Ruth—Statements made by Ron Mark MP 
[Volume:633;Page:4737] 
Tuesday 22 August 2006 
Madam Speaker 
 took the Chair at 2 p.m. 
Prayers 
. 
Responses 
David Ruth—Statements made by Ron Mark MP 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I hereby present a response under Standing Orders 160 to 163 on the application of Mr David Ruth relating to statements made by Ron Mark MP on Tuesday 14 March 2006. 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I move  
That that paper be published 
. 
Motion agreed to.
Wilson Margaret: Responses — David Ruth—Statements made by Ron Mark MP 
Wilson Margaret: Responses — David Ruth—Statements made by Ron Mark MP 
[Volume:633;Page:4737] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I hereby present a response under Standing Orders 160 to 163 on the application of Mr David Ruth relating to statements made by Ron Mark MP on Tuesday 14 March 2006.
Vote: Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Vote: Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:629;Page:1860] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. 
Ayes 63 
New Zealand National 48; New Zealand First 7; Maori Party 3; United Future 3; ACT New Zealand 2. 
Noes 58 
New Zealand Labour 50; Green Party 6; Maori Party 1; Progressive 1. 
Bill read a first time. 
Bill referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee.referred to Transport and Industrial Relations Committee
Tisch Lindsay: Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Tisch Lindsay: Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:629;Page:1846] 
LINDSAY TISCH (Senior Whip—National) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I give notice that National will be splitting this 10-minute call between Dr Mapp and Dr Brash. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Thank you for giving notice of that Mr Tisch. That is the way we will proceed.
Vote: Electoral (Reduction in Number of  Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Vote: Electoral (Reduction in Number of  Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:629;Page:1846] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the Electoral (Reduction in Number of Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. 
Ayes 61 
New Zealand National 48; New Zealand First 7; Maori Party 4; ACT New Zealand 2. 
Noes 60 
New Zealand Labour 50; Green Party 6; United Future 3; Progressive 1. 
Bill read a first time. 
Bill referred to the Justice and Electoral Committee.referred to Justice and Electoral Committee
Stewart Barbara: Electoral (Reduction in Number of  Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Stewart Barbara: Electoral (Reduction in Number of  Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:629;Page:1845] 
BARBARA STEWART (NZ First) 
: 
 I begin by thanking my parliamentary colleagues for their very careful and considered debate on this bill for the many replies to the letters I sent to everyone and for their support. 
This is not an easy issue for politicians to deal with as it directly affects them and that is what we have heard tonight. There is not one of us here in this House who does not believe it is a true privilege to be here representing the people who gave us their trust and their hope that we would make New Zealand a far better place to live in. It is fair to say that we all do our very best to do that. However the bottom line is that Parliament should be a more responsive and accountable institution and should aim to give real power to the people. That is the basis of any democracy. 
For the people of New Zealand this issue is really simple. The overwhelming majority want less government and they see that one way of achieving that is to have fewer politicians. Many voters believe that one of the main disadvantages of MMP is the number of MPs. Opponents of a reduction tonight have stated that it would make the House less effective less stable and would result in an overhang. An overhang is something we currently have. 
However it is time we had a good look at ourselves and our processes and learnt how to work smarter—like the rest of New Zealand. It is certainly past time for this House to be responsive to the will of the people. An appropriate response is to support this bill to amend the Electoral Act going to a select committee. More than eight out of 10 voters have asked for that; I ask members again on their behalf to ensure that this bill can be subject to public and parliamentary scrutiny.
Hide Rodney: Electoral (Reduction in Number of  Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Hide Rodney: Electoral (Reduction in Number of  Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:629;Page:1841] 
RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 Congratulations to Barbara Stewart on taking the trouble to prepare this bill and put it in the ballot and having the luck of bringing it out. I thank her for that. This bill and debate mark a big difference in the parties in this House because our democracy and our Parliament do not belong to us the politicians; they actually belong to the people of New Zealand. It is the people of New Zealand who should be saying how our democracy should be run. We see this in the parties in this House: New Zealand First the Maori Party the ACT party and the National Party want to hear from New Zealanders. We want New Zealanders to have a say. This is their Parliament. It is their democracy. We have the Greens and the Labour Party—the authoritarians—not prepared to let New Zealanders have their say about how many MPs there should be. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: Very sad. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: That is very very sad and it goes to the true colour of the Green Party and the Labour Party. What is wrong pray tell with letting New Zealanders have a say about how many MPs there should be? After all it is their democracy and they are the ones who have to pay for it. Is it the case—and I think it is—that the Green Party and the Labour Party do not trust New Zealanders that they do not think New Zealanders are clever enough or smart enough to actually have a say? The one time that we had New Zealanders having a say over 80 percent of them said: “We favour 100 MPs.” But the Labour Party and the Green Party are saying that those 80 percent have got it wrong and they are not even prepared to send this bill to a select committee to give New Zealanders an opportunity to come forward and have their say. 
It may be that the Green Party members disagree with this bill but they are doing something stronger than just voting against a reduction of MPs. They are voting against the opportunity for New Zealanders to have a say. That is what I find so sad about the Green Party and the Labour Party on this. Yes there is an argument to be had over 120 versus 100 MPs. I personally favour 100 MPs. I think that would be a far better Parliament. But what I do believe is that it should be the people of New Zealand having a say. Nandor Tanczos and the Green Party and Mark Burton and the Labour Party are not voting against 100 MPs; they are voting against New Zealanders having a say. 
Sitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Stewart Barbara: Electoral (Reduction in Number of  Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Stewart Barbara: Electoral (Reduction in Number of  Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:629;Page:1837] 
BARBARA STEWART (NZ First) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be considered by the Justice and Electoral Committee with a standard 6-month report-back time. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley) 
: The member seeks leave for that. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.
Vote: New Zealand Public Health and Disability (Enhancement of Competition) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Vote: New Zealand Public Health and Disability (Enhancement of Competition) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:629;Page:1834] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the New Zealand Public Health and Disability (Enhancement of Competition) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. 
Ayes 57 
New Zealand National 48; Maori Party 4; United Future 3; ACT New Zealand 2. 
Noes 64 
New Zealand Labour 50; New Zealand First 7; Green Party 6; Progressive 1. 
Motion not agreed to.
Gallagher Martin: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Gallagher Martin: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:629;Page:1803] 
10.  
MARTIN GALLAGHER (Labour—Hamilton West) 
 to the  
Minister of Police 
: Has she received any reports on the reaction to the proposed review of the Police Act 1958? 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Police) 
: 
 I am pleased to advise that I have received reports of a very positive reaction to the review of the Act which is nearly 50 years old. The police generally are very supportive of the initiative but I also want to thank other parties in this House for their openness towards the review and I also welcome the support of the New Zealand Police Association and media commentators. The review is a great opportunity to bring the police legislation up to date and into the 21st century. 
Martin Gallagher 
: What is the time frame for the rewrite of the Police Act? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: The intention is to have a draft bill by November 2007 for introduction into Parliament in early 2008. The review will replace the need for the Police Amendment Bill (No 2). I think the police give New Zealanders outstanding service often in difficult situations and they deserve to have the best and most modern legislation. The review will enable the police themselves to have a real input into the way policing develops in this country. 
Simon Power 
: Does she agree with Police Association president Greg O’Connor who said on 7 March: “The Association does not believe any major changes are necessary to ensure that the New Zealand public receive a good service and will be keen to ensure that the legislative process is not used in an endeavour to cover for resource shortfalls.”; if so what reassurances can she give the association on that matter? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: The assurance I can give the association is one I have given it at meetings and publicly: that this Government in conjunction with New Zealand First is providing the resources for 1000 more sworn police and 250 more non-sworn police over the next 3 years at considerable cost. This review is not about resources; it is about rewriting the Act. I am pleased that the Police Association agrees with it. The association may well be right to say that we do not need a lot of change but let us go through the review in order to see what change we do need to bring the legislation up to the modern era.
Moroney Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Moroney Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:629;Page:1801] 
8.  
SUE MORONEY (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Broadcasting 
: Has he received any reports on the levels of New Zealand music on commercial radio? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Broadcasting) 
: 
 I recently received a report from the Radio Broadcasters Association that stated that in 2005 commercial radio played an amazing 20.8 percent of Kiwi music. That well exceeds the target of 17.5 percent. Given that in 1995 under the National Party airplay of Kiwi music was 2 percent can any National members take pride in their contribution to that success? I think the answer is not many if any. 
Sue Moroney 
: Is the Minister aware of any other Government initiatives supporting local broadcasting industries? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: In addition to the voluntary code of practice which is the quota the Government last year provided $4.2 million through NZ On Air to support promotion of New Zealand music both here and as part of an export drive overseas. We support Kiwi television production through the funding of NZ On Air and through the Television New Zealand charter. We are also very pleased to see that broadcasting has now become so important to the National Party that it has four broadcasting spokespeople. It has Georgina te Heuheu Murray McCully Katherine Rich and John Key but even with four spokespeople it still has no policy. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Yes the members are right. The Minister knows that that is irrelevant to the answer of the question so I thank members for that. 
Pita Paraone 
: Could similar achievements in regard to Kiwi content be made by Television New Zealand without its need to have a charter that requires it to reach certain targets? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: No.
Jones Shane: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Jones Shane: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:629;Page:1794] 
2.  
SHANE JONES (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: What reports if any has he received suggesting alternative approaches to KiwiSaver that would encourage people to save for their retirement? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 I have seen one report stating: “Incentives have to be put in place to make New Zealanders save more than they spend.” and: “National is working on a range of incentives to make people want to save.” That report was from National’s finance spokesperson Mr John Key. 
Shane Jones 
: What other recent reports has he seen on the topic of incentives for savings? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: I have seen a second recent report that dismisses tax incentives as an option stating: “If tax incentives don’t increase your savings total what’s the point of them?” and goes on to conclude: “I don’t think anyone has a simple answer to increasing savings.” That report comes from the National Party leader Dr Don Brash. 
John Key 
: Why does the Minister think that KiwiSaver will be successful when first it does not match contributions except for somebody who is saving for a house—and even that is a minimum contribution—second the contribution rate is double that of the State sector retirement scheme and third there is no change to the after-tax income of New Zealand’s workers? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: The only conclusion we can draw from that question is that the member is promoting tax incentives for savings—which of course his leader has dismissed on many many occasions—and I might say that is consistent with all international research. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Is the Minister concerned that the role of KiwiSaver in meeting his goal of increased savings by households is directly undermined by the behaviour of the trading banks which are forcing credit down the throats of consumers by increasing credit card limits when asked not to by urging people to mortgage their homes further to pay for overseas holidays and new cars and by setting performance targets for staff to sell more credit; if he is concerned about that when will he have measures in place to control that behaviour? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: I have expressed both public and private concern about a number of those issues but I do not think legislation is an answer. How one would legislate to prevent people from being offered the opportunity to mortgage their homes for other purposes is quite beyond me particularly when in New Zealand that is often used for the purpose of sustaining and expanding a small business.
Cullen Michael: Sittings of the House 
Cullen Michael: Sittings of the House 
[Volume:629;Page:1791] 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I had a discussion with the shadow Leader of the House this morning and suggested that it might be a sensible idea to seek leave to sit until midnight tomorrow on the assumption that probably the matter on which we are taking urgency the Land Transport Amendment Bill will be dealt with in that time so that members will be free to return to their electorates first thing on Friday morning. Perhaps if I could seek that leave at this point: that the sitting tomorrow night continue past 10 o’clock to midnight. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought. Is there any objection? There is no objection.
Tisch Lindsay: Sittings of the House 
Tisch Lindsay: Sittings of the House 
[Volume:629;Page:1791] 
LINDSAY TISCH (Senior Whip—National) 
: 
 I understand that the House will go into urgency on Thursday. Is it the Government’s intention to seek leave for the House to sit until 12 midnight on Thursday and not on Friday?
Cullen Michael: Business of the House 
Cullen Michael: Business of the House 
[Volume:629;Page:1791] 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I also seek leave and I have had a discussion with Mr Tisch—I have not had a chance to discuss it with the other whips—that the members of the Primary Production Committee meeting outside Wellington are presumed as present within the precincts of Parliament for any party vote held during the sitting of the House this week. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection to that course being followed? There is no objection.
Cullen Michael: Standing Orders—Sessional 
Cullen Michael: Standing Orders—Sessional 
[Volume:629;Page:1791] 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 Following discussion and agreement at the Business Committee yesterday I seek leave for two matters relating to changes in the drafting of legislation. 
That the Clerk of the House of Representatives when reprinting bills at any stage during their passage through the House or when preparing them for the Royal assent after consultation with the Chief Parliamentary Counsel or (as the case may be) the Commissioner of Inland Revenue may make amendments to bills currently before the House or its committees— 
(a) to incorporate the changes in drafting style adopted by the Parliamentary Counsel Office referred to in the document  
Changes in drafting style: List of proposed changes in drafting style in legislation 
 presented to the House on 15 March 2006; and 
(b) to amend bills by omitting where applicable any clause 1(2) (relating to the principal Act) and substituting a new clause that describes the principal Act being amended— 
but in each case not so as to alter the meaning of the provisions of those bills. 
That a clause in a bill confined to stating that the bill amends an existing Act (a principal Act clause) be treated as a preliminary clause that may be taken together with the title and commencement clauses in committee. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection to that course being followed? There is no objection.